Gai Yan

Gai Yan, female, born in 1960 in Qiqihar City, Heilongjiang Province, China. Her early interests were focused on ballet; however, due to insufficient leg length, she switched to studying Chinese dance and eventually successfully gained admission to the Beijing Film Academy. Her career began at the Qiqihar Cultural Palace, where she served as a host for literary and artistic programs.

In 1982, Gai Yan met pianist Liu Shikun while performing at an event in Qiqihar. In 1989, the two married. In January 1990, they moved to Hong Kong, where Gai Yan began engaging in piano education and arts promotion. In March 1992, she established the Liu Shikun Piano Art Center in Hong Kong. In August 1996, the couple simultaneously opened the Liu Shikun Piano Art Center in Beijing and Tianjin, expanding its reach across the country; by 1997, they had established 29 branches in 22 cities.

Apart from promoting piano art, Gai Yan also founded several organizations, including a piano music kindergarten, the Piano Musical Instruments Industry Co., Ltd., the Piano Art Center Co., Ltd., and the Music Education Group Co., Ltd. These organizations aim to expand piano education and industry development, serving a broader public.

In terms of personal honors, Gai Yan was named one of the Top Ten Outstanding Female Entrepreneurs and Top Ten Outstanding Women in Science and Technology in China on December 17, 2022. These honors reflect her contributions and achievements in the fields of culture and technology.

Her husband, Liu Shikun, is a renowned pianist who won second place at the first Tchaikovsky International Piano Competition and has been hailed by international media as a “pianist with rare magic,” “China’s most outstanding pianist,” and “a world-class piano master.” Throughout his career, Gai Yan has also achieved significant accomplishments in piano education and promotion, becoming an important figure in promoting Chinese piano culture.