Portrait of Chen Xinzhu

Artist

Chen Xinzhu

Xinzhu Chen, female, Han nationality, born in Hengyang, Hunan Province in February 1991. I am currently a French horn teacher in Hunan Normal University and a postgraduate tutor, also, a doctoral candidate in the Assumption University in Thailand.

Since childhood, I was taught how to play the French horn by my uncle, Liu Yijun, who is now the deputy chief horn of China National Symphony Orchestra. Then, I continued my horn study with Cong Yuzi (former chief horn of the Military Band of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, and Professor Zhang Chengxin from the Central Conservatory of Music.

In September 2003, I was admitted to the Central Conservatory of Music Middle School with the top score amongst the candidates in the horn major and studied under The world famous horn player Xiaoming Han. During the years in the middle school, I won the Professional Excellence Award for many times. Moreover, I joined the China Youth Symphony Orchestra as the head of the horn section and performed with the orchestra around the country many times.

In September 2009, I was accepted with outstanding grades by the Central Conservatory of Music, major French Horn, and continued to study under Professor Xiaoming Han. In 2010, I joined the China Youth Symphony Orchestra (Senior-Aged group) as the chief horn, and participated in various major performances with the orchestra all over the country.

In 2011, I was admitted to the Asian Youth Orchestra and performed as the chief horn in the orchestra. I also toured with the orchestra in many Asian Countries. In the same year, I was selected into the training program jointly organized by the “Siemens Stiftung” and “Conempo Primo” in Germany.

In 2012, I won the second prize for Brass Quintet and the second prize for Woodwind Quintet in the 10th National Wind Ensemble Competition.

In August 2012, with the Beijing Modern Chamber Orchestra, I performed in the Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival, the opening ceremony of the "Chinese Culture Season" in Poland, and the Old Town Music Festival in Rakow, Poland.

In 2013, I performed with China Youth Symphony Orchestra in Germany, Austria, and other European countries. In the same year, I became a recommended student of the Central Conservatory of Music for Master degree in horn. During the university years, I have been invited to many national orchestras such as China National Symphony Orchestra, China NCPA Orchestra, Chinese Ballet Symphony Orchestra to participate in many important performances.

In January 2013, I was honored to participate in a two-month tour in the United States with the China National Symphony Orchestra.

In June 2013, I was accepted by the Universität Mozarteum Salzburg, Austria, studying for a Master degree in the horn major under the world’s top horn master Radovan Vlatkovic. During the university, I participated as the chief horn in various performances in the Universität Mozarteum Symphony Orchestra and took part in several performances in the Oper im Berg Festival. In December 2015, I graduated from the Universität Mozarteum Salzburg with honor.

In June 2015, I was selected by the National Center for the Performing Arts as a horn player.

In July 2016, I joined Hunan Normal University as a French horn teacher.

In 2018, I acted as the founder of the wind orchestra of Hunan Normal University and served as the leader of the orchestra.

In May 2018, I guided my students to win the gold medal of the first Hunan Wind Solo and Ensemble Competition, and won the Excellent Teacher Award.

In November 2019, I won the Outstanding Instructor Award of the Sixth Hunan Youth Culture and Arts Festival and the Gold Award of the Instrumental Collective Group (as the leader and conductor of the wind band).

In December 2020, I won the award of Excellent Teacher in the 8th "Three-Independent" Competition of Hunan Province.