Jia Daqun Jia Daqun

Jia Daqun, Senior Professor of Composition and Theory at Shanghai Conservatory of Music, a distinguished Chinese composer and music theorist, enjoys special government allowances of the State Council of China. He was awarded bachelor’s and master’s degrees of literature (majoring in composition) from the Sichuan Conservatory of Music, supervised by Prof. Huang Wanpin and Prof. Gao Weijie. He has composed numerous works in various musical styles and has published many articles and books concerning composition and music analysis. His String Quartet (1988) won the 12th IRINO Prize in Japan (1991) and other compositions, such as Rondo, for Clarinet and Piano (1984), The Dragon and Phoenix Totem, for Pipa and Orchestra (1985), Symphony in Two Movements (1986–87) and Symphonic Prelude – Bashu Capriccio (1996) have been awarded prizes in major Chinese national composition competitions. His work Flavor of Bashu, for two violins, piano and percussion (1995) was named ‘Chinese Classic Musical Composition of the twentieth century’ by the Chinese government. His article “The Counterpoint of the Structures” won the second prize in the ‘Outstanding achievements in humanities and social science for colleges and universities’ category issued by the Ministry of Education (2009) and his book Poetics of Musical Structure was the third prize winner in 2013. His Instruction of the Structural Analytics received a silver medal in the Golden Bell Awards for his profound understanding of music theory (2011). Jia Daqun is currently a composition professor and supervisor of doctoral students at Shanghai Conservatory of Music. He is also a member of the Supervision Board of National MFA Professional Degrees, a member of the Appraisal Group for Art Subjects of the Academic Degrees Committee under the State Council of China, a Trustee of the Educational Committee of Chinese Musicians Association and he used to be Dean of the Graduate Study Programmes at SHCM. His contribution to music theory has been widely recognised and frequently cited in academic researches in recent years.

Since the age of thirteen and for eight years thereafter, Jia Daqun studied painting with Prof. Wang Xing-yu of the Sichuan Fine Arts Institute. Based on his preparative studies in visual arts, he was able to connect some musical concepts such as lines, harmony, timbre and structures with visual plastic arts, which are actually considered by him crucial elements of his composition. Known for his workmanship and delicate style of works, he is widely recognized as one of the most talented younger composers among those who immersed themselves in structuralism. His works have been played in many cities and at musical festivals including the Yokohama Asian Music Festival, Berlin Music Festival, Hong Kong International Contemporary Music Festival, and have been received to great public and critical acclaim.