扬琴演奏家项祖华，一九三四年九月出生于江苏省苏州市的音乐世家，二零一七年七月十六日病逝于北京。其父项仰石在苏州创办「吴平国乐团」，曾聘著名国乐家卫仲乐、陆修棠、王沛纶和张季让等为艺术指导，项氏即随陆修棠学二胡，又随首先将江南丝竹合奏曲改为扬琴独奏的「江南丝竹扬琴鼻祖」任悔初习奏扬琴。一九四九年，项氏入苏州工专就读并任该校国乐队长。一九五六年，调上海民族乐团从事专业扬琴演奏。一九六三年，在「上海之春」音乐会上，获扬琴伴奏第一名奖状。一九六四年，调北京中国音乐学院任教扬琴。一九九一年十月，项氏参加了在匈牙利举行的第一届世界扬琴大会，发表了论文《中国扬琴的传统和发展》，并举行了独奏音乐会。在这次大会上，项氏当选为新成立的国际扬琴学会副会长。项氏创编的扬琴曲有《苏武牧羊》、《屈原祭江》、《昭君和番》、《林冲夜奔》、《海峡音诗》及《春满江南》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.