Lu Chunling, born on September 14, 1921, in China, was a male dizi (bamboo flute) performer known for his contributions to Jiangnan sizhu and traditional Chinese music. He began learning the pipa and dizi as a child and left school at 15 to work as a tricycle taxi driver while continuing to study under local sizhu musicians. In 1952, he became the 10th soloist of the Shanghai Folk Ensemble (later the Shanghai Traditional Orchestra). He began teaching at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music in 1957 and was promoted to Associate Professor in 1978. Lu was recognized as a leading exponent of Jiangnan sizhu music, collaborating with notable musicians such as Ma Shenglong, Zhou Hao, and Zhou Hui. His compositions appeared on works such as Jinxi (今昔) and Jiangnanchun (江南春), and his music was featured in the soundtrack of the 1963 animated short film The Cowboy’s Flute. Lu Chunling passed away on May 22, 2018.
