Yu Hongmei is China's leading virtuoso contemporary erhu soloist. She is an educator: professor, graduate supervisor and director of the Chinese Music Department at the Central Conservatory of Music. She is the vice chair of the Erhu Society of Chinese Musicians Association; the vice chair of the Huqin Professional Committee of Chinese National Orchestra Association; the guest erhu soloist for China National Traditional Orchestra and a guest professor at the University of Calgary in Canada.
Yu Hongmei graduated from the Central Conservatory of Music, studying under Prof Su Anguo, Zhang Shao, Lan Yusong and Liu Changfu. She won the Pro Musicis International Award in New York. The Yu Hongmei Erhu Concerto Album won the 4th China Golden Record Prize. Her String Glamour album won the Best World Music Prize at the international 'Indie Awards' representing the independent music industry; she is the only Chinese musician to have received this award since it was established in the 1960’s. The Hongmei Caprice Album won the first Prize of the 1st National Excellent Audio and Video Products Prize.
Yu Hongmei has presented more than 100 solo concerts internationally. She has played the great classical erhu works such as Chasing Dreams in Peking, Ba Que, Heavenly Aroma and the Charming Xikou. Many of her students have won first prizes at important international and national competitions. In 2012 she created the Shengfeng Chinese Music Ensemble which won the overall championship in the CCTV National Instrumental Music Television Series and the Golden Prize of the 9th Chinese Music Golden Bell Awards.
