Cao Tianli

Cao Tianli was born in 1950 in Jinan, Shandong. He fell in love with music at the age of seven and developed a deep connection with the erhu at eight. In 1966, Wang Guotong, a renowned erhu maestro from the China Conservatory of Music, came to Jinan as an examiner. At the age of sixteen, Cao Tianli achieved the highest score across all examination regions and was personally selected by Wang. It was a fortunate moment, as Cao's talent was truly recognized by Wang Guotong. He was subsequently transferred to the Jinan Art Troupe to serve as a musician. In late 1970, he joined a military arts troupe, and in 1982, he transitioned to civilian life, enrolling at Qingdao University. After graduating, he served as the deputy director of the Qingdao Entrepreneurs Club. In 1990, he became a freelancer musician.

With the bearing of a true master, Cao Tianli's extraordinary performance skills are entirely self-taught. He firmly believes that "everyone in the world is my teacher." Over forty years ago, his works were already being published by national publishers. His independent mindset and unconventional innovations, have no precedent in traditional techniques, all of which come to life vividly in his compositions.

Source: Ebenezer School & Home for the Visually Impaired