When Xuefei Yang was seven, her parents asked the music teacher at her school to teach her the accordion – a popular instrument in China at that time – hoping it would help their daughter concentrate on her academic work.

“[The teacher] thought the accordion would be too heavy for a young girl, and instead put me into a guitar group she was starting. I didn’t even know what a guitar was then, but I took to it very quickly,” recalls Xuefei.

Xuefei Yang. Photo supplied

She certainly did, going on to become the first-ever guitarist to enter a music school in China, before undertaking postgraduate studies at London’s Royal Academy of Music.

Now regarded as one of the world’s finest classical guitarists, Xuefei will perform in recital and in a gala concert at this month’s Adelaide Guitar Festival. 

“We’ve been trying to make it happen since before COVID, and it’s coming to fruition this year. I’ve visited Australia before, but this will be my first time in Adelaide, which I hear has a very active arts scene, so I am excited to come and visit and be part...