Ping Gao, a composer-pianist, born in Chengdu, Sichuan province of China. He studied in the USA in the 1990’s.

In demand as a composer, he has received commissions and performances from musicians around the world. In recent years, his works pointed at new direction of Gao’s approach combining Western and Chinese instruments, such as Four Not-Alike, Concerto for multifunction pianist and chamber orchestra.

Gao’s two albums released on Naxos label were critically acclaimed. His music also appears on Yamaha, Atoll, and Rattles record labels. His recent albums Outside the Window (piano music) and Pure Wind (Chinese ensemble) were released by China Records Corp. and People’s Music in 2017. Other works such as Piano Concerto No.1 was published on Shanghai Music Publisher. Since 2020, the Xinan Normal University Press published a series of Gao’s collections of music including piano albums Outside the Window (2020), Wanderings (2022) , and the song cycle Melodies Abandoned (2020).

In 2016, Gao was commissioned by artist Mr. Chen Danqing, the head of the Mu Xin Museum, to compile the music manuscripts by the late artist Mu Xin and to create new compositions with the material. He performed these compositions in a concert at the museum which received much critical response from the press as well as the general audience.

Gao is a Professor and the Head of Composition at the Conservatory of Music-Capital Normal University in Beijing. He previously taught at the University of Canterbury in New Zealand. Gao is the composer in residence for the Forbidden City Chamber Orchestra, a prominent Chinese instrumental ensemble in Beijing. He was appointed as the 2018 composer in residence of Orchestra Wellington (New Zealand).