Meet Lina Cao – A World-Renowned Guzheng Virtuoso

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Lina Cao is an internationally acclaimed guzheng virtuoso celebrated for her profound contributions to traditional Chinese music and her innovative integration of Eastern and Western musical traditions. Over her illustrious career spanning continents, Lina has redefined guzheng artistry, breaking cultural barriers and establishing herself as a leading figure in contemporary Chinese music.

曹丽娜是一位享誉全球的古筝演奏大师，以其对中国传统音乐的杰出贡献和东西方音乐创新融合的独特理念而闻名。在跨越多个大洲的璀璨职业生涯中，她重新定义了古筝艺术，打破文化界限，成为当代中国音乐的领军人物之一。

A Stellar Journey of Musical Mastery
Beginning her guzheng studies at the age of five, Lina quickly displayed extraordinary talent. She trained under some of China’s most distinguished masters, including Wang Wei, Ren Jie, Yanai Hua, and Li Meng. With degrees from the prestigious Nanjing University of the Arts and the Shanghai Conservatory of Music, Lina seamlessly blends tradition with modern expression in her performances. Her artistry has graced world-class venues such as Carnegie Hall in New York, Roy Thomson Hall in Toronto, and the National Centre for the Performing Arts in Beijing, captivating audiences worldwide.

辉煌的音乐旅程
五岁开始学习古筝，曹丽娜展现出卓越的天赋。她师从中国古筝名师王蔚、任洁、阎爱华和李萌，并分别毕业于南京艺术学院和上海音乐学院。她的演奏将传统与现代完美结合，足迹遍布纽约卡内基音乐厅、多伦多罗伊汤姆森音乐厅和北京国家大剧院等世界顶级舞台，深受全球观众喜爱。

Collaborations and Premieres
Throughout her career, Lina has collaborated with premier orchestras and ensembles, including the China Broadcasting Film Symphony Orchestra, Toronto Chinese Orchestra, and Canadian Arabic Orchestra. She has worked with renowned conductors like Pang JiaPang and Teri Dunn and acclaimed composers such as He Zhanhao, Alice Ho, and Andrew Staniland, premiering groundbreaking works that push the boundaries of guzheng performance.

合作与首演
在职业生涯中，她与中国广播电影交响乐团、多伦多中国乐团和加拿大阿拉伯乐团等顶级乐团合作，并与指挥家彭家鹏和作曲家何占豪等合作，世界首演了多部创新作品，推动了古筝艺术的演奏界限。

Accolades and Recognition
Lina has received numerous prestigious awards, including the "Golden Bell Award" (2012), China’s highest music honor, and the "Wenhua Award" (2008). Internationally, she earned double gold prizes at the Singapore International Chinese Arts Festival (2008) and was nominated for "Outstanding Chamber Performance" at Canada’s 40th Dora Mavor Moore Awards (2017). Her performances have been broadcast by CBC Music and Chicago’s WFMT Radio Network, and in 2024, she received funding from the Canada Council for the Arts.

奖项与荣誉
曹丽娜曾荣获“金钟奖”（2012年）和“文华奖”（2008年），并在新加坡国际华人艺术节（2008年）独奏和重奏中斩获双料金奖。此外，她在第40届加拿大Dora奖中获得“最佳室内乐演出”提名，其演奏曾被CBC Music和芝加哥WFMT广播网播出。

Leadership and Education
As the founder and music director of the Toronto Guzheng Ensemble, Lina has led the group to premiere numerous innovative works, elevating guzheng chamber music to new heights. She is also a passionate educator, serving as the first guzheng instructor at Wilfrid Laurier University and regularly lecturing at leading institutions such as the University of Toronto and York University. Lina uses music as a cultural bridge, continuously infusing new vitality into guzheng artistry and solidifying its place on the global stage.

领导与教育
作为多伦多古筝乐团的创始人兼音乐总监，曹丽娜带领乐团首演了多部创新作品，将古筝室内乐推向了新的高度。同时，她是劳瑞尔大学音乐学院的首位古筝讲师，并定期在多伦多大学和约克大学等学府授课，以音乐为桥梁，为古筝艺术注入新活力。