London Youlan Qin Society

Introduction

The London Youlan Qin Society, founded on 13^th July 2003, is Europe’s foremost and longest established qin society. It is a London-based voluntary cultural organization which aims to promote interest in and understanding of Chinese music, its culture and arts, philosophy and social meaning, especially of the qin, in the UK.

The qin or guqin, the Chinese 7-stringed zither, is one of China’s most significant classical instruments, and was declared by UNESCO in 2003 as a “Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity”. The society is committed to facilitating the education, exchange and development of Chinese musical culture and arts between the UK, China and the rest of the world. Its president is Dr Cheng Yu, a leading UK Chinese musician and research associate at SOAS, University of London.

Objectives

Hold regular yajis (informal gatherings of qin enthusiasts) to play music, discuss issues and exchange ideas

Organise workshops, classes and performances

Coordinate cultural events and creative calibrations relating to Chinese music and arts

Distribute information and news about related cultural events and scholarly conferences

Forge links with other qin societies in China and the rest of the world

Maintain a Society library of books and other materials relating to qin and Chinese music

Activities

The following is a selection of highlights from among our regular bimonthly yaji meetings and annual guqin summer schools:

Aug, 2022	Held the first East Asian Music Summer School at Goldsmiths, University of London. The summe rschool included included the concert, "Sounds of East Asia". .
2020-2021	During the Covid-9 pandemic, we held all our yajis and summer schools online.
Aug, 2018	Held the first International Guqin Festival at SOAS, University of London. Events included the 2018 Guqin Sunmmer School with guqin masters Li Xiangting, Zeng Chengwei and Zeng He, an academic conference, a film show about Robert van Gulik, and 4 concerts.
Aug, 2017	Performed in a Chinese Music Concert during the 2017 Guqin Summer School at the China Exchange in London's Chinatown.
Aug, 2016	Performed in a Chinese Music Concert during the 2016 Guqin Summer School at the China Exchange in London's Chinatown.
Aug, 2016	Held a yaji meeting at which qin scholar Dr Yip Mingmei gave a talk on "Beautiful Hands - Finger Configuration and its Philosophical Symbolism in Qin Music.
July, 2016	Held a yaji meeting at Asia House at which Dr Liang Jiyong gave a talk on the life and qin activity of qin master Pu Xuezhai.
Nov, 2015	Held a yaji meeting at which qin maker Hong Chingyan, and qin players Chen Cheng and Xu Hanzhi from Shanghai gave talks and played qin.
Aug, 2015	Performed in a Chinese Music Concert during the 2015 Guqin Summer School at the China Exchange in London's Chinatown.
July, 2015	Held a yaji meeting at which Dr Liang Jiyong gave a talk on the Zhonghe style qins nmade by Prince Lu of the Ming Dynasty.
Aug, 2014	Performed in a Chinese Music Concert during the 2014 Guqin Summer School at the Royal College of Music in South Kensington.
July, 2014	Held a yaji meeting at which Dr Liang Jiyong from Guangzhou gave a talk on the Qing Dynasty qins made by Li Xizhai.
Jan, 2014	Performed in a Chinese music concert as part of the Victoria and Albert Museum Chinese Festival.
Nov, 2013	Held the "Flowing Water" Chinese Music Concert at SOAS.
Aug, 2013	Held the LYQS 10th Anniversary Concert during the 2013 Guqin Summer School at the Royal College of Music in South Kensington.
Jan, 2012	Performed at the Chinese New Year celebrations on the main stage at Trafalgar Square
May, 2011	In collaboration with the Prince’s Charities Foundation, the British Museum and SOAS, held a Chinese Four Arts Summer School, a five day course on the four quintessential Chinese traditional arts: qin, qi (Weiqi or Go, Chinese chess), shu (calligraphy) and hua (brush painting), and a concert by Li Xiangting and the string quartet of the English Chamber Orchestra.
Nov/Dec, 2010	In partnership with The Confucius Institute, Turin, Italy, given concerts and lectures at the Mao Oriental Museum and at the Institute by LYQS musicians.
July, 2010	Collaborated with AMC to co-organise guqin classes at RAM and the Asia Strings concert by Cheng Yu, Dai Xiaolian and others at Purcell Room, Southbank Centre.
August, 2009	Collaborated with AMC to co-organise guqin classes at Kingston University and concert by Shu School master Prof. Zeng Chengwei, Purcell Room, Southbank Centre.
Nov, 2008	Collaborated with SOAS and the Prince’s Charities Foundation to co-organise a guqin and xiao concert by Gong Yi and Dai Shuhong.
May, 2007	Collaborated with SOAS and the London Confucius Institute co-organise a guqin concert at SOAS by Lin Youren and Lin Chen from Shanghai.
August 2006	Collaborated with AMC to co-organise guqin classes at RAM and concert by master Gong Yi, Purcell Room, Southbank Centre.
December, 2005	Collaborated with SOAS to co-organise a guqin concert by Yang Chunwei from Beijing, in Khalili Hall at SOAS.
August, 2004	Collaborated with AMC to co-organise guqin classes at the Royal Academy of Music (RAM) and concert by master Li Xiangting, in the Purcell Room, Southbank Centre.
May, 2004	Collaborated with the Pitt Rivers Museum Centre for Musical Instruments and Textiles for a yaji and concert.
August, 2003	Collaborated with Asian Music Circuit (AMC) to co-organise guqin classes and concert with master Gong Yi at SOAS.

Administrative structure

As at 13 January, 2022, the Society has the following structure:

Officers:

President: Cheng Yu
Secretary: Julian Joseph
Treasurer: Jenny Zhao

Non-Executive Officer:

PR Officer: Elaine Yu

Ordinary committee members:

Dennis Lee
Azalea Lei Qin
Viola Qiu
Charles Rupert Tsua

Advisers:

Qin master Gong Yi of Shanghai
Professor Li Xiangting of the Central Conservatory of Music, Beijing
Professor Zeng Chengwei of Chengdu
Feifei Hu of the Prince's Charities Foundation, China

LYQS YouTube channel

LYQS Eventbrite page

LYQS Instagram page

LYQS Facebook page

LYQS Weibo page

Joining and membership

You are welcome to join the Society if you appreciate or play qin or other Chinese music.

As of 13 January 2024, the annual subscription rates are:

Full membership: £40, with a concessionary rate of £35 for students, pensioners and people not in full time employment. Overseas membership £30.

For further information, please contact the secretary.

Entry to our regular bimonthly yaji meetings is free to members. For non-members, there is a £5 admission fee, payable either in advance via Eventbrite or at the yaji. If you become a member and pay the annual subscription during the yaji, the fee will be refunded.

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