A Chinese girl's love affair with guitar

An important person in Yang's life was Australian classical guitarist and Grammy Award winner John Christopher Williams.

"He has always been my idol," Yang said, recalling that when she just started learning guitar, her dad used to record Williams's performances for her.

The girl first met the legendary guitarist at the age of 17 when she was having a master class. "I was nervous in front of him, because I wanted to do well and leave an impression to him."

It was out of Yang's expectation when she later learned that before leaving for Hong Kong, Williams told his interpreter to give his guitar to the fledgling Chinese musician.

Later in Britain, they met for a few times. "He never really taught me the skills for one specific piece of music, but he acted as a mentor, always encouraging and inspiring me."

Now Yang has graduated and won the Royal Academy of Music Principal's prize. She launched albums and gave about 50 performances a year worldwide.

But she never forgot that her root was in China.

Encouraged by Williams, she adapted Chinese folk music for guitar, in the hope of establishing a bridge between China and the West.

She also wished to popularize classical guitar in China.

"Many Chinese don't know much about guitar," Yang said. "When I was learning guitar in China, a schoolmate once asked me 'could guitar be played in a concert hall'."

But she saw guitar a good music instrument to learn. "It is quite intimate. You can't carry a piano with you all the time, while playing violin needs a bow. But guitar is like your baby, always lying in your arms, close to your heart," she said poetically.

Yang said she always carried her guitar with her on holidays. "I like playing on the beach, just as self-entertainment," she said. "To some extent, it started a new world for me. It is part of my life."