Liu Yuan was born in Hangzhou in 1959 and started to learn various instruments, the Chinese erhu, dizi and jinghu, and the Western trumpet and piano, at the age of thirteen. He became an accomplished clarinettist and has been principal of the Frontline Music and Dance Group of Fujian Province for the last nine years. In 1986 Liu entered the composition department of Shanghai Conservatory, studying under Yang Liqing and completing a considerable quantity of music in various forms, vocal and orchestral. His Symphonic Fantasia, scored for a large orchestra, was recently awarded first prize at the 14th Shanghai Spring Music Festival. Liu is probably the most important young composer in China today.
