Gao Hong's Compositions – Partial Listing

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Compositions – Partial Listing

For Symphony Orchestra

2025 - Yue Xing 樂·行 for Pipa & Orchestra – Completed 2025. Commissioned by the Minnesota Orchestra. Premiered by the Minnesota Orchestra, conducted by Norman Huynh, with Pipa soloist Gao Hong at Orchestra Hall in Minneapolis, MN. Also performed by the Anchorage Symphony Orchestra, with additional performances scheduled for the 2026–2027 season. This work was recorded with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra at Abbey Road Studios and presented in a sold-out live performance at Temple Church in London in January 2026. It is featured on the album Symphony of Self, released by Naxos World. The recording received Gold Medals in both Best Composition/Composer and Instrumental from the Global Music Awards in 2026.

2023 - Musical Journey for Pipa with Western Orchestra – Completed 2023. Commissioned by the Civic Orchestra of Minneapolis for its 70th season. Premiered by the Civic Orchestra of Minneapolis, with Gao Hong as Pipa soloist and Cary John Franklin conducting, on April 29, 2023, at the Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd in Minneapolis, MN.

2022 - Guangxi Impression for Pipa and Orchestra – Completed 2022. Commissioned by the Minnesota Orchestra and premiered on February 5, 2022, at Orchestra Hall in Minneapolis, conducted by Junping Qian, with Gao Hong as Pipa soloist. Also performed by the Wartburg College Symphony Orchestra in February 2025 in Iowa. This work was recorded with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra at Abbey Road Studios and presented in a sold-out live performance at Temple Church in London in January 2026. It is featured on the album Symphony of Self, released by Naxos World. The recording received Gold Medals in both Best Composition/Composer and Instrumental from the Global Music Awards in 2026.

2021 - Celebration Overture for Orchestra - Commissioned by Minnesota Sinfonia. Completed 2021. World premiere by Minnesota Sinfonia, Jay Fishman, Conductor at the Basilica of Saint Mary in Minneapolis, MN on October 17th, 2021. Also performed by the Kenwood Symphony Orchestra, Yuri Ivan, Conductor on November 6, in East St. Paul, MN. Full orchestra version premiered by Maryland Symphony conducted by Elizabeth Schulze in October 2022.

2014 - Green Willow Tree - Double Concerto for Pipa, Violin and Orchestra - Completed 2014. Premiered by the Minneapolis Pops Orchestra, Jere Lantz, Conductor, Minneapolis. Subsequent performances in St Paul, Red Wing, and Northfield, MN. Co-commissioned by the Minneapolis Pops Orchestra and the Cannon Valley Regional Orchestra.

2005 - Flying Dragon Concerto – for Pipa and Orchestra. Completed 2005. Commissioned by American Composers Forum Jerome Composers Commissioning Program. Premiered by Gao Hong, Pipa, and the Minneapolis Pops Orchestra, Jere Lantz, Conductor, at Lake Harriet Bandshell, Minneapolis. Subsequent performances with the Oshkosh Symphony Orchestra, Rochester Symphony, Acadiana Symphony (LA), St. Olaf College Orchestra, Wayzata Symphony Orchestra, Fort Collins Symphony Orchestra (CO), Warburg College Orchestra (IA), and many others.  This work was recorded with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra at Abbey Road Studios and presented in a sold-out live performance at Temple Church in London in January 2026. It is featured on the album Symphony of Self, released by Naxos World. The recording received Gold Medals in both Best Composition/Composer and Instrumental from the Global Music Awards in 2026.

For Wind Ensembles

2026 - Musical Journey for Pipa with Wind Band – Completed 2026. Commissioned by the University of Texas Wind Ensemble and Maestro Jerry Junkin. Premiered by the University of Texas Wind Ensemble under the direction of Jerry Junkin with Gao Hong as Pipa soloist at the University of Texas at Austin on February 11, 2026 with subsequent performance on February 12, 2026, at TMEA in San Antonio, TX. Future performances scheduled with Dallas Winds, the Royal Netherlands Navy Band, the University of Minnesota Wind Ensemble, and others for 2026-2028 season.

2025 - China Breeze for Wind Dectet – Completed 2025. Commissioned as part of the Women in Harmoniemusik Consortium, led by Rose Craig Tyler and LADYBAND Minneapolis, with additional generous funding from Eileen M. Lach. The consortium includes 45 leading institutions and ensembles such as Arizona State University, Baylor University, the Eastman School of Music, Northwestern University, the University of Michigan, Texas Tech University, Yale University, the United States Navy Band, the St. Olaf Band, and others across the United States. Premiered by LADYBAND, conducted by Rose Tyler, at the Vine Room in Hopkins, MN, in October 2025. Also performed by the UNCW Southern Harmonie in January 2026 in North Carolina.

2025 - Celebration for Chamber Winds – Completed 2025. Commissioned by Newfound Chamber Winds and its Founding Artistic Director and Conductor, Tyler Austin. Premiered by Newfound Chamber Winds under the direction of Tyler Austin at the Newfound Chamber Winds Summer Music Festival at Old Dominion University, VA, in June 2025, and at the Midwest Clinic, December 2025 in Chicago. Also performed by the University of Missouri–Kansas City Conservatory Wind Symphony in April 2026, and the University of Texas Chamber Winds in May 2026.

2024 - Celebration for Wind Band– Completed 2024. Commissioned by “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band and premiered at the American Bandmasters Association Convention in Washington, D.C. on March 7, 2024. The work has since been widely performed by over 40 leading ensembles, including the University of Texas Wind Ensemble, University of Minnesota Wind Ensemble, Baylor University Wind Ensemble, University of Southern California Thornton Winds, University of Illinois Bands, University of British Columbia Concert Winds (Canada), and Michigan State University Wind Symphony. It has also been featured by international ensembles and festivals such as the Interlochen World Youth Wind Symphony and the Hong Kong Wind Philharmonia, with additional performances across China, Taiwan, and Canada. The work is featured on the album Symphony of Self, released by Naxos World. The recording received Gold Medals in both Best Composition/Composer and Instrumental categories from the Global Music Awards in 2026.

For Chamber

2026 - Xiang Chou 鄉愁 for Erhu, Pipa, and Piano – Completed 2026. Commissioned by the Joy Luck Trio. Premiered by the Joy Luck Trio at Bargemusic in New York City in May, 2026.

2026 - Pastorale for Erhu, Pipa, and Piano – Completed 2026. Commissioned by the Joy Luck Trio. Premiered by the Joy Luck Trio at Bargemusic in New York City in May, 2026.

2017- China Caprice for Pipa and String Quartet. Completed March 1, 2017. Premiered at Macalester College, St Paul, MN with the Artaria String Quartet.

2012 - Guangxi Impression for Pipa and Guitar Quartet. Completed 2012. Premiered in Sundin Hall in St. Paul by the Minneapolis Guitar Quartet and Gao Hong on March 23, 2012. Included on the Minneapolis Guitar Quartet album Thrum. Co-commissioned by the Minnesota Guitar Quartet and the Jerome Foundation.

2012 - Nostalgia for Clarinet, Pipa, Cello and Piano. Completed 2012. Commissioned by Jun Qian.
Recorded by Jun Qian, Clarinet; Gao Hong, Pipa; David Carter, Cello; Kent McWilliams, Piano for the album East Meets West released on Albany Records in November, 2012.

2009 - Chun, Xia, Qiu, Dong (Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter) - for Pipa, Clarinet, Piano and Percussion. Completed

2008. Commissioned by the Jerome Foundation. Premiered in June, 2009 by Zeitgeistat Studio Z in St Paul.

2008 - Celebration for Pipa, Taiko, Percussion, Tabla, Sitar, Veena, Indian Vocals, and Cello. Completed 2008. Commissioned by the Jerome Foundation. Premiered at Ted Mann Concert Hall, Minneapolis April 19, 2008 by Gao Hong, Pipa; Kenny Endo, Taiko; David Hagedorn, Percussion; Biplab Bhattacharya, Tabla; Nirmala Rajasekar, Veena and Vocals; Shubhendra Rao, Sitar; and Michelle Kinney, Cello. Subsequent performance at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall, April 27, 2008.

2008 - Celebration of 150/30 Years for Clarinet, Piano, and Percussion - Completed 2008. Commissioned by Zeitgeist. Premiered at Studio Z in St Paul for Zeitgeist's Charging Forward: 30 Years of Groundbreaking Music World Premiere of Music of Our Time.

2008 - Butterfly for Pipa, Cello, Veena, Voice and Tabla. Completed 2008. Commissioned by Jerome Foundation. Premiered at Ted Mann Concert Hall, Minneapolis April 19, 2008 by Gao Hong, Pipa; Biplab Bhattacharya, Tabla; Nirmala Rajasekar, Veena and Vocals; and Michelle Kinney, Cello. Subsequent performance at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall, April 27, 2008; the Asia Society’s Tiger Ball in Houston, TX; and North Dakota Museum of Art, Grand Forks, ND.

2007 - The Ant and the Magpie for Clarinet, Piano, Marimba and Percussion. Completed 2007. Commissioned by American Composers Forum for their St. Paul Listens project. Recorded and performed by Zeitgeist in St Paul, MN.

2007 - Awakening – for Pipa, 2 Percussionists, and Bass. Completed 2007. Jerome Foundation commission.
Premiered by Gao Hong and Speaking in Tongues at Muziekgebouw in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, March 24, 2007.

2003 – 2005 - Quiet Forest, Flowing Stream – 4 versions: 2005, 2004, 2003. Jerome Foundation commission. Original version for Pipa, Sitar and Tabla premiered 2003 at Southern Theater in Minneapolis by Gao Hong, Pipa; Shubhendra Rao, Sitar; and Akram Kahn, Tabla with subsequent performances at Ted Mann Hall, Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall, and the Ethical Society in St. Louis. A second version with Biplab Bhattacharya on Tabla was included on Gao Hong’s Quiet Forest, Flowing Stream album. A 3nd version for the multicultural group Speaking in Tongues (Pipa, 2 Percussionists, and Bass) was premiered in 2004 and was included in the Science Museum of Minnesota’s Wild Music exhibit that toured the U.S. It was also performed at the Ordway Center for the Performing Arts in St. Paul and The Cedar in Minneapolis. A 4th version for Pipa, Piano, Violin and Cello, was premiered by The Bakken Trio and Gao Hong in April, 2005, with subsequent performances at the Southern Theatre in Minneapolis, Bridge Chamber Music Festival, Bethel University, 2017 Carolina Chamber Music Festival, with ProMusica Minnesota, at Carleton College and most recently in 2026 at Bethel University in St. Paul.

2004 - Spring Rain  - for Pipa, Bass and Tabla, Completed 2004. Jerome Foundation commission.
Premiered by Anthony Cox, Bass; Marcus Wise, Tabla; Gao Hong, Pipa at the State Theater, Minneapolis.

2002 - Morning – for Pipa, Sitar and Tabla. Completed 2002. Collaborative composition by Gao Hong and Shubhendra Rao. Performed By Shubhendra Rao, Sitar; Ty Burhoe, Tabla; Gao Hong, Pipa. Premiered at Walker Art Center in March 2002 with subsequent performances at Ted Mann Hall, Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall, and the Ethical Society in St. Louis.  Recorded on Gao Hong’s Flying Dragon: Gao Hong and Friends Around the World album.

2002 - Silk Road – for Pipa, 2 Flutes, Sitar, Tabla, 2 Percussion, Sax. Completed 2002. Performed by James Newton, Flute; Shubhendra Rao, Sitar; Ty Burhoe, Tabla; Marc Anderson and Sowah Mensah, Percussion; Faye Washington, Flute; Donald Washington, Sax; Anthony Cox, Bass; and Gao Hong, Pipa. Premiered in March 2002 at Walker Art Center. Recorded on Gao Hong’s Flying Dragon: Gao Hong and Friends Around the World album.
Multiple performances with Ragamala Music and Dance Theater and in several versions with other musicians including Ignacio Lusardi Monteverdi, Speaking in Tongues and others.

For Duo

2017 - Battle of Chu and Han for Pipa and Zhongruan - Completed 2017. World Premiere by Gao Hong on Pipa, Gus Holley on Zhongruan at Carleton College Kracum Performance Hall in February 2017 in Northfield, MN. Also performed in July 2017 at the Song Qing Ling Performance Hall in Beijing, China; and at the Ordway Center for Performing Arts in St. Paul, MN on April 3, 2022. Supported by an Established Artist grant from the Southeastern Minnesota Arts Council.

2009 - Jin She de Jijie for Pipa and Guitar - Completed 2009. Commissioned by Danish guitarist Lars Hannibal. Premiered at The Royal Danish Academy of Music in Denmark on April 23, 2009. Performed by Lars Hannibal on Guitar and Yan Jiang on Pipa, with subsequent performances at Cadogan Hall, London; The Nafplion Festival, Greece; The Madeira Festival, Portugal; and Audi Festival 2010 (Germany). Also performed by Jeffrey Van, Guitar, and Gao Hong, Pipa in the Gao Hong and Friends: Lutes Around the World concert at The O’Shaughnessy in St. Paul.

2007 - Courage for Pipa and Percussion – Completed 2007. Commissioned by Jerome Foundation. Premiered by Gao Hong and David Hagedorn for a Present Music concert on June 7 in Milwaukee with subsequent performances at Ted Mann Hall and Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall.

For Solo

2021 - Impressions of Beethoven’s Pastoral Symphony for solo Pipa. Commissioned by the Central Conservatory of Music Beijing, China. Completed 2021. World premiere by Gao Hong on Pipa at the Central Conservatory of Music worldwide virtual concert.

1997 - Flying Dragon for solo Pipa. Current version completed 2002. Original version completed 1997. Performed by Gao Hong, Pipa in over 500 concerts in U.S., Europe & China. Recorded on Gao Hong’s Flying Dragon album. The recording received a Gold Medal for Instrumental from the Global Music Awards in 2026.

For Choral Music

2010 - Golden Season for S.A.T.B. Chorus and Optional Chinese Pipa/Guitar. Completed 2010. Premiered by the Macalester College Choir, Eugene Rogers, Conductor, Gao Hong, Pipa, at The O’Shaughnessy in St. Paul on February 26, 2011. Supported by the Minnesota State Arts Board. Subsequent performance by the Carleton Choir, and University of Minnesota Singers.

2007 - Coming of Spring for S.A.T.B. Chorus and Optional Pipa. Completed 2007. Winner of 2007 Essentially Choral reading program on Friday, May 18, 2007. Philip Brunelle, Conductor. Premiered by VocalEssence at the Fitzgerald Theater, St. Paul, MN, April, 2008. IFTPA commission. Subsequent performance by St. Olaf Chapel Choir, Carleton Singers, and Yinghua Chinese Choir.

For Multimedia

2017 -Chinglish - Multimedia composition. For Pipa and Film.Completed 2017. Premiered by Gao Hong and Roger Bechtel at The O’Shaughnessy in St. Paul on March 24, 2017, an onMarch, 31, 2017 at Carleton College in Northfield, MN.

2015 - Gao Hong on the Highway - Multimedia composition for Pipa and Film.Completed 2015. Premiered by Gao Hong at The Cedar, Minneapolis, Jan 29, 2015 and at Carleton College on Jan. 31, 2015. A theatrical comedy performance piece using videos, synthesizer, looping, and live pipa music.  A 416 Club Commission.

For Soundtracks

2017 - The Third Place soundtrack for a video installation project for the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. Co-composed/recorded/performed soundtrack with the Grammy award-winning musician Alex Wand. Completed 2017. Commissioned by interdisciplinary artists Desiree Holman and Ming Mur-Ray.

2009 - Cold Mountain – Music for a film portrayal of the Tang Dynasty Chinese poet Han Shan. Completed 2009. Commissioned by Center for International Education.

2002 Made in China – for Pipa, Chinese Winds, Erhu, and Percussion. Completed 2000. Commissioned by Twin Cities Public Television. Recorded for the six-episode TV series Made in China by Gao Hong, Pipa; Wang Hong, Chinese Winds and Strings; Marc Anderson, Percussion. Broadcasts during 2001 and 2002. Videos released 2001 and 2002.

For Theater

2000 - Song of the Pipa – Completed 2000. Commissioned by Theater Mu.  Music for a play based on Gao Hong’s life and the life of Chinese poet Bai Juyi. 20 performances at Southern Theatre, Minneapolis in March and April, 2000.

Dance

2001 – Floating Over the Clouds - Completed 1998. Commissioned by Ragamala. Performed by Gao Hong, Pipa; choreographed by Ranee Ramaswamy. Premiered at the University of Minnesota Ted Mann Concert Hall, Minneapolis, March 2001.

1998 - Four from One Hundred - Completed 1998. Commissioned by Ragamala. Performed by Gao Hong, Pipa; choreographed by Ranee Ramaswamy. Three performances at The O’Shaughnessy Dance Series, St. Paul, MN in April 1998.

For Mixed Chinese and Western Orchestras

2022 - Celebration for Pipa with Mixed Chinese and Western Orchestras – Completed 2022. Premiered by the the Kenwood Symphony Orchestra and the Carleton Chinese Music Ensemble, with Gao Hong as Pipa soloist and Dennis Friesen-Carper conducting, on April 3, 2022, at the Ordway Center for the Performing Arts in St. Paul, MN.

For Traditional Chinese Orchestra

@025 - 歡慶 for Traditional Chinese Music Orchestra. Commissioned/Premiered by the Suzhou Chinese Traditional Orchestra with Chang Chang conducting, on January 23, 2025 at the Baoli Grand Theater in Suzhou, China.