Cui Can plays the ruan with other musicians. [Photo/WeChat account: isuzhou365]
Cui Can, chief ruan performer of the Suzhou Chinese Orchestra, was recently honored by the local government as a "Friend of Suzhou," local media outlets reported.
Born in Xi'an, capital of Northwest China's Shaanxi province, Cui started her personal connections with Suzhou at the young age of three when she visited the city.
"I still keep the photo of myself feeding fish at a classical garden in Suzhou," Cui said.
Although she had been to Suzhou several times and was drawn by its long history and friendly culture, Cui said that the real reason that she decided to leave her position in the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra, where she had been working for 12 years, and moved to Suzhou with her family in 2017 was the vigor and vitality that the Suzhou Chinese Orchestra had shown.
"As a young orchestra, we have many specially-composed music pieces, which are modern, suitable for symphonies, and good in telling Suzhou's stories," Cui said.
"Although our orchestra is only four years old, we have already won the Austrian Music Theater Prize, which is awarded for outstanding achievements in opera, operettas, musicals, and ballet."
Cui Can (in red) is the chief ruan performer in the Suzhou Chinese Orchestra. [Photo/WeChat account: isuzhou365]
In addition to being devoted to the orchestra, Cui enjoys strolling around Suzhou's classical gardens in her spare time.
"After a few steps in the garden, you will feel the elegance and serenity oozing in the air, which is very different from the hustle and bustle of city life outside, so that's quite refreshing,” Cui said.
