Yang Xue, internationally renowned erhu soloist, has given numerous solo concerts and premiered groundbreaking solo, chamber, and concerto works in China and abroad in Europe, America, Asia, and Africa, collaborating with orchestras such as the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra of London and the Royal Scottish National Orchestra. Yang formed the “Bows and Strings’ Dance” Huqin Ensemble and has gained the reputation as one of the pioneers in the field of erhu ensemble performance.

The Bows and Strings ‘Dance Erhu (Huqin) Ensemble was established in 2009, initiated by music director Professor Yang Xue. The ensemble primarily consists of Yang’s students at the Central Conservatory of Music (Beijing), with the aim of cultivating and enhancing the performers’ polyphonic aural skills and polyphonic thinking in performance, embodying Professor Yang’s unique teaching philosophy that combines solo and ensemble playing.

The ensemble has always been dedicated to grounding itself in the traditions of huqin music, while drawing upon western compositional theories to enrich vocabulary and expand the language of Chinese bowed instruments. The ensemble has been featured in a series of Yang Xue’s textbooks teaching erhu ensemble playing techniques. It has released CDs and been featured in academic papers. The ensemble has toured in China and aboard, performing in Singapore, Malaysia, Beijing, Nanjing, Guangzhou, Tianjin, Lanzhou, Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan. They have successfully premiered commissioned works such as “Bows and Strings ‘Dance” and “Red Velvet,” delivering captivating performances at high profile events, such as the Beijing Huqin Festival and the China Bowed String Festival. The ensemble was awarded the Silver Prize in the Professional Youth A Category at the 2nd “Dunhuang Cup” Chinese National Chamber Music and Ensemble Competition in 2021.