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1949 in Shanghai, China

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Zhu Xiao-Mei is a renowned classical pianist and harpsichordist who was born on July 18, 1949, in Shanghai, China. She is widely recognized for her exceptional talent and virtuosity, which has earned her numerous accolades and awards throughout her career. Zhu Xiao-Mei began her musical journey at the age of three when she started playing the piano. Her parents recognized her talent and encouraged her to pursue music as a career. She received her early training at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music, where she studied under the guidance of renowned pianist and educator, Madame Yu Chun-Yee. In 1966, during the height of the Cultural Revolution in China, Zhu Xiao-Mei was sent to a labor camp in the countryside, where she spent five years doing hard labor. Despite the harsh conditions, she continued to practice the piano whenever she could, using a makeshift keyboard made out of pieces of wood. After the end of the Cultural Revolution in 1976, Zhu Xiao-Mei was able to return to Shanghai and resume her musical studies. She continued her education at the Conservatory, where she studied under the tutelage of Professor Zhou Guang-Ren. In 1980, she won first prize at the Shanghai Piano Competition, which marked the beginning of her professional career as a pianist. In 1985, Zhu Xiao-Mei left China and moved to Paris, France, where she continued her studies at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse de Paris. She studied under the guidance of renowned pianist and pedagogue, Yvonne Loriod-Messiaen, and also received instruction from other notable musicians such as György Sebők and Maria João Pires. Zhu Xiao-Mei made her debut as a concert pianist in Paris in 1987, performing a recital of works by Bach, Beethoven, and Schumann. Her performance was met with critical acclaim, and she quickly established herself as one of the leading pianists of her generation. Throughout her career, Zhu Xiao-Mei has performed extensively throughout Europe, Asia, and North America, appearing as a soloist with many of the world's leading orchestras, including the Berlin Philharmonic, the London Symphony Orchestra, and the New York Philharmonic. She has also given numerous recitals and chamber music performances, collaborating with some of the most distinguished musicians of our time. One of the highlights of Zhu Xiao-Mei's career was her performance of Bach's Goldberg Variations at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris in 1999. The performance was recorded and released on CD, and it quickly became a best-seller, earning critical acclaim and numerous awards, including the Diapason d'Or and the Choc du Monde de la Musique. Zhu Xiao-Mei is also a highly regarded harpsichordist, and she has recorded several albums of Baroque music on the instrument. In 2011, she released an album of works by Scarlatti, which was praised for its virtuosity and sensitivity. In addition to her performing career, Zhu Xiao-Mei is also a respected educator and has taught at several institutions, including the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse de Paris and the Hochschule für Musik und Theater München. She is also the author of several books, including "The Secret Piano: From Mao's Labor Camps to Bach's Goldberg Variations," which chronicles her experiences during the Cultural Revolution and her journey to becoming a world-renowned pianist.

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