Music in the Chapel: Gao Hong & Anthony Ross

The Music in the Chapel series showcases an eclectic range of performers and local musicians. Immerse yourself in the acoustic and visual charms of Lakewood’s historic Memorial Chapel as we welcome Gao Hong and Anthony Ross for this special performance.

Gao Hong graduated from Beijing’s elite Central Conservatory of Music where she studied with pipa master Lin Shicheng. Since coming to the United States, she has performed at the Lincoln Center Festival, Carnegie Hall, the San Francisco Jazz Festival, Smithsonian, and at festivals in Paris, Caen, Milan, Perth, and throughout Spain. She has presented concertos for the pipa with the Minnesota Orchestra, Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, Heidelberg Philharmonic, Buenos Aires Philharmonic, China National Traditional Orchestra, Guangdong National Traditional Orchestra, Louisville Orchestra, Hawaii Symphony, and the Women’s Philharmonic (San Francisco), among others. In 2017 she became the first Chinese musician to play the National Anthem at an NBA basketball game when she did so on pipa for the Minnesota Timberwolves in Minneapolis.

Gao Hong has received numerous top awards and honors in China and U.S. In 2005 Gao Hong became the first traditional musician to be awarded the prestigious Bush Artist Fellowship, and in 2019 she became the only musician in any genre to win five McKnight Artist Fellowships for Performing Musicians. As a 2018 Sally Award winner, Gao Hong was honored at the Ordway Center for her commitment to the arts. In December of 2025 Gao was inducted into the Transglobal Music Hall of Fame. Gao is also the author of the first pipa method book written in English that was published and distributed worldwide by Hal Leonard, the world’s largest music print publisher.

As a composer, she has received commissions from the Minnesota Orchestra, The President's Own United States Marine Band, the University of Texas and Newfound Chamber wind ensembles, LADYBAND, American Composers Forum, Walker Art Center, the Jerome Foundation, Minneapolis Pops Orchestra, Minnesota Sinfonia, Kenwood Symphony Orchestra, Civic Orchestra of Minneapolis, Zeitgeist, Ragamala Music and Dance Theater, Theater Mu, IFTPA, Minneapolis Guitar Quartet, The Cedar, Southeastern Minnesota Arts Council, and Twin Cities Public Television for the six-part series "Made in China." Other symphony orchestras performing her compositions include the Maryland Symphony Orchestra, Minneapolis Pops, Rochester Symphony, Acadiana Symphony (Louisiana), Oshkosh Symphony, St. Olaf College Orchestra, and the University of Iowa Symphony.

Gao Hong’s albums have received 11 Gold Medals from the Global Music Awards. The Sorel Organization in NYC awarded her a Medallion Recording Grant to support an album of her compositions, Her most recent album, Symphony of Self, was recorded in Abbey Road Studios with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and will be released in January 2026 on Naxos World.

In 2022, Mayor Melvin Carter of St. Paul proclaimed April 3, 2022 to be “Gao Hong Day in the City of St. Paul” in honor of Gao Hong’s milestone concert at the Ordway Center for the Performing Arts - “50 YEARS OF MAKING MUSIC WITH FRIENDS”. This concert was featured on American Public Media’s Performance Today® hosted by Fred Child.

As a chamber player, she was featured as both pipa player and composer at ChamberFest Cleveland, Yellow Barn Music Festival, Carolina Chamber Music Festival, Harbin Summer Music Festival, Pittsburgh Early Music Festival, OPEN SPACE New Music Festival and others.

Gao teaches at CarletonCollege and directors Chinese Music Ensemble. She is also Guest Professor at the Central Conservatory of Music, China Conservatory of Music, and Tianjin Conservatory of Music.
China's foremost music publication, "People's Music," wrote of Gao Hong that "like the famous Luoyang peony, she has gradually emerged as the best of all beautiful flowers...her performance has extremely strong artistic appeal and belongs under the category of 'fine wine'...the more you listen, the more beautiful it gets..."
“For over 50 years. Gao Hong’s music has inspired and moved countless numbers of people around the globe. As one of the premiere pipa players in the world, Gao Hong’s illustrative career is filled with accomplishments as a musician, composer and educator.” – Amy Klobuchar, United States Senator.

Principal Cello of the Minnesota Orchestra, Anthony Ross has been a soloist many times with the group, performing concertos by Dvorák, Victor Herbert, James MacMillan, Beethoven, Saint-Saëns, Elgar and Shostakovich, among others, as well as many chamber works. In October 2009, he was featured in the Schumann Cello Concerto under the baton of Stefan Sanderling; in May 2010 he played the Brahms Double Concerto alongside Acting Concertmaster Sarah Kwak in concerts led by Mark Wigglesworth; in October 2010, Ross performed Walton’s Cello Concerto under Gilbert Varga’s direction.

Before joining the Minnesota Orchestra in 1988, Tony was principal cello of the Rochester Philharmonic in New York. He assumed his current position in 1991.

Away from Orchestra Hall, Ross is active as a chamber musician, festival performer and educator. He has appeared in the Mostly Mozart, Cactus Pear (San Antonio) and Bach Dancing and Dynamite Society (Madison) festivals, and has performed on stages from Pensacola, Florida, to Rhodes, Greece. Ross has taught at the Eastman School of Music, the Aspen Festival and the Grand Teton orchestra seminar.

Ross’ recordings include Bernstein’s Three Meditations with the Minnesota Orchestra under Eiji Oue, the George Lloyd Cello Concerto with the Albany Symphony under David Alan Miller, and works of Rachmaninoff and Elliott Carter for Boston Records.

A graduate of Indiana University, Ross earned a master’s degree at the State University of New York, Stony Brook. In 1982 he was awarded the bronze medal at the prestigious Tchaikovsky Competition, and he received McKnight Fellowships in 2001 and 2005.

This event takes place in the beautiful and historic Lakewood Memorial Chapel. This stunning building was built in 1910 by architect Harry Wild Jones and is modeled after the Hagia Sofia in Istanbul. It is one of the only examples of Byzantine style chapels in the US, and is on the National Register of Historic Places. Click here for more information on the Lakewood Memorial Chapel.

Signs will be posted directing you to the event location or click here for GPS navigation through Google Maps.

Questions? Call the Lakewood events line at 612-540-5165 or email [email protected].

Is this concert all ages?

Yes, all ages are welcome.

When should I arrive?

Arrive any time after 2 PM before the 3 PM show. Doors open at 2 PM to allow guests ample time to enjoy the art and architecture of Lakewood’s historic Memorial Chapel.

Do I have to bring printed tickets or use the Eventbrite app?

No, printed tickets are not required and you do not need to use the Eventbrite app. We will have a guest list at the door.

What are my transportation and parking options?

Free parking is available along roads inside the cemetery, including reserved spaces for handicap parking near the chapel. There is a Metro Transit bus stop just outside of Lakewood’s front gates at 36th & Hennepin Ave. It is within walking distance from the chapel (1-2 blocks). If you come by bicycle, use the bike racks near the cemetery’s main gates.

Is the Chapel accessible?

Due to the historic nature of this venue, there are limited accessibility accommodations that can be made. Accessibility notices are below:

Parking: Reserved accessible parking spots are available near the Chapel’s entrance, which has a ramp to the front door.

Seating: All seating is in fixed pews with cushions. Behind the pews, there is space for wheelchairs, but it is limited.

Restrooms: Two single-occupancy washrooms are available on the main level. The chapel’s accessible restroom is located on the lower level. Because there is no elevator and the spiral staircase is not accessible for all guests, one can access the lower restroom from behind the building. Please ask staff for assistance with wayfinding.

We apologize for these inconveniences. While we strive to be welcoming to all, there are limitations within this historic space. If you have further concerns about accessibility, please call us at 612-540-5165 or email [email protected].

What can I bring to the event?

There is a coat rack available, and you may bring a water bottle. (There is a water dispenser available inside the building, too.) Please do not bring pets, food or drinks other than water.

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