Famous violinists take to the stage to honor Sheng Zhongguo

"I came to China with my husband about 30 years ago and I've witnessed the development of China's classical music scene. He was very excited about the younger generation and taught many students," the pianist adds.

During the concert, six of those students will perform music pieces adapted from Romanian Folk Dances, a suite of six short piano pieces composed by Hungarian composer Bela Bartok in 1915.

"We miss him, not only for his solid technique as a violinist, but also as a great teacher. I can still recall when, ahead of my concerts, Sheng would invite me to his home and let me use his violins, which are very valuable," says Xie Nan, one of Sheng's former students performing at the concert.

Born in Chongqing, Sheng began studying the violin at the age of 5, taking lessons from his father, Sheng Xue. He gave his first public performance at 7, and at 9, he made his first solo recording with the Wuhan People's Broadcasting Station, playing music by Mozart, Beethoven and Schubert.

In 1954, Sheng Zhongguo began studying at the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing and, in 1960, furthered his musical studies at the Tchaikovsky Conservatory in Moscow under the great Russian violinist, Leonid Kogan. After returning to China in 1964, Sheng gave concerts as a soloist with the China National Symphony Orchestra.