LIN YAO JI

Born in Guangzhou in 1937, Lin Yao Ji declared his ambition to become a violinist at a very early age. His parents paid little attention to it, until one day he startled them by announcing that he had already started his formal studies and taken his first lesson with one of the city's most prominent teachers-who now needed to be paid. He was only 13 at the time and didn't even own an instrument, leaving him with no choice but to practice on a pair of chopsticks when he got home. A real violin soon followed, however, brought home by a generous uncle from Hong Kong... Lin's extraordinary abilities weren't destined to pass unnoticed for long. Less than one year into his training, he was overheard during a lesson at his teacher's home by the principal of Beijing's Central Conservatory of Music, who instantly recognized the boy's talent and offered him a place at the Conservatory without so much as an audition. Upon graduating from the Conservatory in 1960, Lin was selected by the Moscow..