“I hope my voice will inspire others to join in. One voice becomes thousands of voices, like a great symphony of love for the wild.”
Ying Ying directed and sang in the Ensoul conservation music videos. Each video features a compelling story of a critical ecosystem and its significance in the survival of wildlife species and the health of our natural world to help people to reconnect with nature.
Born into a profoundly musical family in China, Ying Ying effortlessly acquired musical mastery, likened to a gracious gift. Her father, Liu Chi, the renowned Chinese classical composer of the 20th century, introduced her to the essence of Chinese song and the intricacies of Chinese and Western orchestral scores at a young age.
Ying Ying embarked on a chamber music scholarship at the Cleveland Institute of Music, studying piano under Paul Schenly. She also collaborated extensively with pianist Anne Epperson, received instruction in composition from the late American composer Donald Erb, and swiftly earned her Master’s Degree.
Ying Ying went on to complete her Doctorate in Piano Performance and Literature at the Eastman School of Music. There, she was mentored by renowned pianist and educator Rebecca Penneys. Ying Ying also collaborated with members of the Cleveland Quartet, early music specialist Paul O’Dette, and harpsichordist Arthur Haas. She further honed her skills in master classes led by Richard Goode, Jerome Lowenthal, and Malcolm Bilson.
Her vocal training was under the guidance of esteemed professors including Thomas Paul, Robert Eckert, and Catherine Kasch.us pedagogue. She participated in Richard Goode, Jerome Lowenthal, and Malcolm Bilson’s master classes. Ying Ying’s voice training was completed under renowned professors such as: Thomas Paul, Robert Eckert, and Catherine Kasch.
Breaking records I was born in 1963, in Liaoning province, northeast China, the youngest of four children. I was an “accident”. My father’s name is Liu Chi, which means “big fire”. He is one of the most celebrated Chinese composers. He named me Ying Ying, which means “firefly”, so I’m daddy’s little fire.
I had an amazing relationship with my dad. My mother was a choreographer and later became a painter and I grew up surrounded by artists.
When I was six, me, my mother and two of my siblings were sent to the countryside and my older sister was sent to a different place.
At the beginning, there were times when we had barely anything to eat, but my mum had a green thumb and quickly learned how to grow food on a small plot of land. We raised chickens, ducks, pigs and even had a pet squirrel. I went to school in a simple brick building. There were many intellectuals in the countryside, so we actually had proper teachers.
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