Video of Shen Qi and Luo Di playing Horse Racing at the Canadian Museum of Civilization for the Ottawa Asian Heritage Month Society Gala on 26 April 2008.
Memory of Homeland
Shen Qi was born in Nanjing, China. She began to play Erhu when she was six. At the age of eight, she was selected as a soloist for the famous Nanjing Xiao Hong Hua Art Group, a prestigious arts institution for the youth. During this period, Shen Qi performed Erhu in several different countries, including Japan and Singapore. At 17, she began her studies at the music department of Nanjing Normal University, where she received professional training in Erhu performance. Shen Qi completed there her bachelor’s degree of arts at age 21. Since graduating, she has been actively performing and teaching, both in China and abroad. Shen Qi immigrated to Canada in 1994 and has been living in Montreal ever since.
Over the years she has contributed to many innovative projects recording for television, movies and theater such as the movies “La Face Cachée de la Lune” (The Hidden Face of the Moon), “La Coupure”, “Wushu Warrior (2008)”, a Chinese-Canadian co-production, the documentary "La maison de mes ancêtres" (Mozus Productions) to be released later this year and for the CBC TV documentary “Peu Importe l’Age”. Shen Qi has collaborated with Judi Richards on her new album "Du septieme ciel"; with Michel Cusson on the music score of the TV show "The Race to Mars" and the movie "Dinosaurs Alive"; with le Cirque du Soleil (Colisle du solie) on the album “Kooza”; with Mercan Dede on the album “Mercandede 800”; with Dave Liang on his latest Shanghai Restoration Project album; and with Guy Trépannier on the musical show “Shanghai 1920”.
In 1997, she was invited to play as an Erhu soloist in "Le Monde de Jos Bello", presented by L'Auguste theatre. In the following two years, she was invited to play Erhu solo in various concerts, including the Soiree Bénéfice de l'Accueil Bonneau (1998) and the musical comedy, "Le Tour du Monde en 80 Jours" (1999).
Since then, Shen Qi has performed at numerous local, national, and international events, including for the Festival des Mosaicultures Internationales de Montreal (2000), the Festival du Patrimoine Asiatique de Musique (2002-2004), the Montreal International Jazz Festival (2004), the Festival des Musiques du Monde (2005, 2006 and 2007), the Multi-Cultural Concert in Aid to Sri Lankan Children of Tsunami (2005), the Noon Under the Bridge concert series in Ottawa (2007), the Festival Accès Asie (2007, 2008), the Ottawa Asian Heritage Month Gala (2008) and many others. In June 2006, she was invited to perform with two other Asian artists with the Montreal Musicians of The World Symphony Orchestra for their inaugural concert, "The Music We Love".
When not performing solo Shen Qi performs in several groups. Oriental Strings which was formed in 2005 perform as a duo, a trio or a quartet and play traditional Chinese as well as classical pieces. In early 2007, she joined the Montreal music collective, l'Ensemble du Carré St-Louis; the ensemble offers a quartet featuring Erhu, Flute, Guitar and Acoustic Bass, an interesting fusion of Occidental and Oriental musical cultures - classical, jazz, popular and traditional European and American music with a Chinese flavor. In the summer of 2007 Shen Qi and cellist Luo Di formed the VI Strings Ensemble.
The album “Soulful Strings” is Shen Qi's latest album released in 2007. It features the sounds of the Erhu, Flute, Cello and Guitar. It’s Shen Qi's coming into her own right as a virtuoso on the Erhu. This latest album is a blend of Western folk, Chinese traditional and original songs. From the first note to the last, Shen Qi's heart shines through this spiritual and flowing album. The album “A Lover's Tears” was released in 2004 and commemorates the Shen Qi's tenth anniversary in Montreal. The mixture of reflective and melancholic sentiments that she has carried with her since leaving her homeland is captured in the selection of music she has chosen for this anniversary album. A joint project between Shen Qi and guzheng (Chinese zither) artist Shao Yun produced the album “Chinese Traditional Masterpieces” in 2000. These more recent works were preceded by "Really Miss You", released in 1999; "The Everlasting Impression", released in 1997; and "Famous Erhu Melodies" her first recording released in 1996.
Let us present a little comment, That in this very particular moment, Presents happiness for lack of rejection That turned into invisible connection Of ThiSpace and ThaTime friends One so sturdy, that it never ends, And a little video it sends...
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