揚琴演奏家項祖華，一九三四年九月出生於江蘇省蘇州市的音樂世家，二零一七年七月十六日病逝於北京。其父項仰石在蘇州創辦「吳平國樂團」，曾聘著名國樂家衛仲樂、陸修棠、王沛綸和張季讓等為藝術指導，項氏即隨陸修棠學二胡，又隨首先將江南絲竹合奏曲改為揚琴獨奏的「江南絲竹揚琴鼻祖」任悔初習奏揚琴。一九四九年，項氏入蘇州工專就讀並任該校國樂隊長。一九五六年，調上海民族樂團從事專業揚琴演奏。一九六三年，在「上海之春」音樂會上，獲揚琴伴奏第一名獎狀。一九六四年，調北京中國音樂學院任教揚琴。一九九一年十月，項氏參加了在匈牙利舉行的第一屆世界揚琴大會，發表了論文《中國揚琴的傳統和發展》，並舉行了獨奏音樂會。在這次大會上，項氏當選為新成立的國際揚琴學會副會長。項氏創編的揚琴曲有《蘇武牧羊》、《屈原祭江》、《昭君和番》、《林沖夜奔》、《海峽音詩》及《春滿江南》等。
XIANG Zu-hua
XIANG Zu-hua was born in September 1934 in Suzhou, Jiangsu province and passed away of illness on July 16, 2017 in Beijing. His father XIANG Yang-shi founded the Wu Ping Music Society in his hometown and invited the celebrated Chinese traditional music instrumental virtuosi WEI Chung-loh, LU Xiu-tang, WANG Pei-lun and ZHANG Ji-rang as art director. XIANG Zu-hua was then learned the erhu from LU Xiu-tang and the yangqin from most famous Jiangnan Sizhu yangqin virtuoso REN Hui-chu. In 1949, when he studied at the polytechnic, he was the leader of the school ensemble. In 1956, he was appointed to the Shanghai Traditional Orchestra. In 1963, he was granted the first honour of yangqin accompaniment in the Shanghai Spring Festival. In 1964, he was transferred to the China Conservatory as the yangqin teacher. In October 1991, he was selected to participate in the 1st International Yangqin Conference in Hungary and published his thesis together with a solo concert. He was then elected vice president of the newly founded International Yangqin Society. His composition and yangqin works include SU Wu Tending Sheep, QU Yuan’s Worship to the Heaven, Political Marriage of Zhao Jun, LIN Chong Fled to Liang Shan, etc.