Zhou Xiaoyan

Zhou Xiaoyan
Zhou Xiaoyan performing in 1947 in Shanghai
Born	(1917-08-17)August 17, 1917 Wuhan, Hubei, China
Died	March 4, 2016(2016-03-04) (aged 98) Shanghai, China
Education	Shanghai Conservatory of Music
Alma mater	École Normale de Musique de Paris Conservatoire russe de Paris Serge Rachmaninoff
Occupation(s)	Vocal pedagogue, Classical soprano
Years active	1937–2016
Spouse	Zhang Junxiang ​ ​ (m. 1952; died 1996)​
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese	周小燕
Simplified Chinese	周小燕
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Zhōu Xiǎoyàn

Zhou Xiaoyan (Chinese: 周小燕; Wade–Giles: Chou Hsiao-yen; August 17, 1917 – March 4, 2016) was a Chinese vocal pedagogue and classical soprano. Dubbed by The New York Times as "China's First Lady of Opera", she was considered to be the first important instructor of Western opera in China.^[1][2]

As a vocalist, she performed in theaters and concert halls across Europe in 1946–1947; earning the nickname the "Chinese Nightingale".^[3][2] Under the directive of Premier Zhou Enlai, she began a career teaching voice at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music in 1949. She remained an instructor at the Shanghai Conservatory for more than 65 years.^[3] Many of her students went on to highly successful international opera careers.^[2]