Fugen Wei, Coach

 

After immigrating to the United States in 1986, Fugen Wei served as accompanist in numerous opera workshops and voice studios in New York City, including the studio of the famed voice teacher, Rose Bampton at the Juilliard School, and collaborated regularly in recitals with singers from the Metropolitan Opera in cities such as Paris, Washington, D.C., Toronto, Denver, Houston, Honolulu, Shanghai, Beijing and Tokyo, and in venues as such Carnegie Hall, Poly Theater of Beijing, and the World Expo organized by the city of Shanghai. His discography includes the Collection of Art Songs by Chinese composer Lu Zaiyi, recorded with renowned Chinese singers DAI Yuqiang and GUO Sen, the Complete Art Songs by Ding Shande with ZHANG Jianyi, HUANG Ying and LIAO Changyong , as well as a solo recital album with LIAO Chaoyong. In 2005, Wei served as the official accompanist for Carlo Bergonzi’s International Voice Master Class in Beijing, and for the Opera Division at 2013 Beijing International Music Competition. As a “foreign expert and specialist in vocal accompanying”, he joined the Faculty of Voice Department at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music in 2006. As an educator, he has made a significant contribution to the discovery and nurture of a new generation of young vocal talents in China. He has performed in countless state functions of the Chinese government, and participated in important cultural exchange activities and diplomatic events, such as Chinese Year Gala Concert in Kremlin Theater, Moscow, hosted by the Chinese and Russian Presidents, and the official reception for President Barack Obama hosted by Chairman Hu Jintao of China.At the age of nine, Fugen Wei was accepted into the Primary School of the Shanghai Conservatory as a gifted pianist. He made his solo public debut in the “Shanghai Spring Music Festival” at age twelve. After joining the Shanghai Orchestra in 1979, he was appointed by the Chinese government as the official accompanist for renowned Chinese singers in major international voice competitions in Budapest and Vienna. He has appeared with these prominent vocal artists in recitals on the “Prague Spring Music Festival”, Moscow, Hong Kong Cultural Centre, as well as throughout Germany, Romania, former Yugoslavia and the United States.