In 1964, LI Weigang was born into a musical family in Shanghai. He studied violin under his parents’ instructions starting from the age of five. When he was 14 years old, he was admitted to the Music Middle School Affiliated to the Shanghai Conservatory of Music. In 1981, he was selected into the first project for cultural exchange between Shanghai and sister city San Francisco, and then he pursued studies at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music for one year.

 

 

In 1983, LI Weigang and three other graduates from Shanghai Conservatory of Music jointly founded “Shanghai Quartet”. He won the second place in the 3rd Portsmouth International Quartet Competition (known as the London International String Quartet Competition at present) in 1985.

 

 

Pianist Robert McDonald has toured extensively as a soloist and chamber musician throughout the United States, Europe, Asia, and South America. He has performed with major orchestras in the United States and was the recital partner for many years to Isaac Stern and other distinguished instrumentalists.

 

Mr. McDonald’s prizes include the Gold Medal at the Busoni International Piano Competition, the top prize at the William Kapell International Competition and the Deutsche Schallplatten Critics Award.