A key composing figure in contemporary China, Chen Gang was born in Shanghai in 1935. He first studied composition with his father Chen Ge Xin, followed by entry to the Shanghai Conservatory of Music in 1955. In his final year of study at the Conservatory he wrote, together with He Zhan Hao, The Butterfly Lovers. The violin concerto became one of the most popular and best loved Chinese compositions ever, winning 5 Golden Record Prizes as well as a Platinum Record Prize. The Concerto has also achieved enormous international success. Chen is now a Professor at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music.