Gao Can plays a 400-year-old violin during his performance with the Guangzhou Symphony Orchestra in Guangzhou in September. [Photo provided to China Daily]

Two years later, while studying at the Central Conservatory of Music, Gao went to the College-Conservatory of Music of the University of Cincinnati as a visiting scholar and taught there until 2012.

In 2007, he became the youngest associate professor at the Central Conservatory of Music and has been teaching there ever since.

The violinist has collaborated with international orchestras, including the Houston Symphony Orchestra, Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra and China National Symphony Orchestra.

He has also performed at major international events, such as the Verbier Festival, where he served as the concertmaster for the Verbier Festival Orchestra, as well as at Germany's Beethoven Festival.

The late German conductor Kurt Masur once said: "Gao has established himself as a consummate artist."

Gao gives about 50 performances a year and teaches both children and young adults at the Central Conservatory of Music.

"Playing onstage enables me to gain rich experience as a soloist, which benefits my identity as a music teacher as well. I believe in the power of role models. Students will be influenced by their teachers' performances," he says.

Other than the violin, Gao majored in composition while studying at the Beijing conservatory.

"I haven't written a piece for violin yet. I am too familiar with the instrument to compose for it. I also believe that rich life experience will provide more of a perspective for my music. Maybe, I will fulfill my dream of composing in my 50s," he says.

Contact the writer at chennan@chinadaily.com.cn

If you go

7:30 pm, Thursday. Forbidden City Concert Hall, Zhongshan Park, west of Tian'anmen Square, Xicheng district, Beijing. 010-6559-8285.