HU Kun is a legendary violinist, conductor and pedagogue. He was described in the 80’s as a “great artist” (Le Monde), and as having “Undoubted power” (The Times), “Hu Kun [...] Chinese musicians, especially violinists, are establishing an increasingly high profile on the Western concert scene” (The New York Time/International Herald Tribune), as well as being “One of the most individual string players to burst onto the scene...the finest of the younger generation of violinists” (The Strad).

Kun first studied violin with his father, Prof. Hu Wei Min, and later with Prof. Lin Yao Ji. His mother, Prof. Peng Shi Jun, also taught him piano. He studied conducting with Prof. Xu Xin.

Kun gained his first soloist position at the age of 13, in the Chinese Radio Symphony. He was the first mainland Chinese violinist ever to establish a solo career on an international stage, after winning Fifth Prize at the Sibelius Violin Competition in Helsinki in 1980 at only 17 years old, raising the Chinese flag on the international violin competition stage. He has toured around the world, became the late Lord Yehudi Menuhin's only private student for 15 years, went on to win more international competitions and major recording contracts, and performed with the world's leading orchestras at major cultural centers. Kun took up conducting in 2003, under the private guidance of the late Sir Colin Davis for 10 years, and founded his own orchestra “Hu Kun and Friends” in London.

Kun currently enjoys touring as a conductor, teaching as a Professor (Hon RAM) at the Royal Academy of Music in London, giving masterclasses at music festivals, chairing and serving as a jury member at some of the world's major violin competitions, and building bridges for East and West cultural exchanges. There have been several films and TV documentaries about his pioneering musical career.

Interestingly, in recent years a number of Kun’s successful violin students have also gone on to become star conductors. Perhaps this is no coincidence?…