Visiting Professor of Violin, The Yehudi Menuhin School Qingdao

Esteemed Violinist, Conductor, and Educator

Sole Private Student of Master Yehudi Menuhin

Hu Kun, born in Chengdu, embarked on his musical journey at the tender age of six, learning violin from his father, Hu Weimin, and piano from his mother, Peng Shijun. At just seven, he performed onstage alongside his mother, winning accolades. By thirteen, his rendition of Paganini's Violin Concerto in Beijing had the music world buzzing, earning him the moniker "Sichuan Child Prodigy". That same year, he was specially appointed as a solo performer by the China Central Radio Symphony Orchestra and the Cultural Work Troupe of the Commission for Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense, studying under Professor Lin Yaoji.

After securing the top spot in a national selection competition at sixteen, he represented China at the International Jean Sibelius Violin Competition in Finland, clinching the fifth position. This achievement marked him as the first Chinese mainland international violin competition award winner. The Ministry of Culture fast-tracked his admission to the Central Conservatory of Music, from which he graduated with distinction, becoming the youngest member of the China Music Association.

In 1984, Hu Kun's artistic journey led him to the International Menuhin Music Academy in Switzerland for advanced studies under Alberto Lysy, where he triumphed in a host of international competitions. After winning first place and four individual awards at the Yehudi Menuhin International Violin Competition in Paris, his exceptional talent caught the eye of Master Yehudi Menuhin, who invited him to London as his only private student. Together, they toured global music centers, performing with first-rate symphony orchestras, featuring in broadcasts on renowned radio and TV stations, and recording for leading record labels.

Hu Kun began his conducting career in 1982, mentored by Chinese conductor Professor Xu Xin, and later by the world-famous Sir Colin Davis. In London, he established the first overseas Chinese Western orchestra, "Hu Kun and Friends". His conducting pursuits have spanned the UK, Switzerland, Italy, Finland, France, Japan, China, and beyond.

Hu Kun has been lauded by international media, with France's Le Monde dubbing him a "truly great artist," The Times (UK) describing him as an "undoubted force," and The New York Times highlighting his role in the rise of Chinese violinists in the Western music world. The British international string magazine The Strad put him on its cover, hailing him as “one of the most unique string musicians to emerge in recent years. His exclusive contract with Nimbus Records places him among today's leading young violinists.”

While touring and teaching masterclasses at top festivals and competitions worldwide, Hu Kun also plays an active role as a judge and chairman in numerous international competitions. His efforts extend beyond performance and education to fostering cultural exchanges between the East and West. His influence in bridging these cultures is highlighted through international film and television media, which have published and distributed feature films about his life and work. Hu Kun stands as an unequivocal pioneer and leading figure among Chinese musicians on the global stage, setting a high standard for cultural and musical exchange.

Hu Kun has also nurtured numerous international-level young soloists. In 1997, he was invited to teach at The Yehudi Menuhin School in the UK, and since 1998, he has been a professor at the Royal Academy of Music in London. In 1999, he taught at the Indiana University School of Music in the USA. His teaching achievements have set multiple records in the history of British music education. Among his protégés is Ning Feng, who won first prize in the 51st Paganini International Violin Competition and numerous other international awards. In recognition of his educational contributions, the British Royal Family awarded Hu Kun the highest honor of Honorary Member of the Royal Academy of Music (HON RAM) in 2002. In 2012, he was specially appointed as an "Overseas Master" by the Shanghai Conservatory of Music. Recently, he was also appointed as an "Overseas Master" by the Central Conservatory of Music and classified as an A-level foreign expert by the Beijing Bureau of Foreign Experts. Every year, violinists from around the world come to London to seek his tutelage.