Liu Yuan, born in 1959, studied composing from Professor Guo Zurong in 1975. In 1986, he was admitted to Composing Department in Shanghai Conservatory of Music as a student of Professor Yang Liqing and Zhao Xiaosheng and graduated in 1991. From 1991 to 1999, he worked as composer of Shanghai Song & Dance Ensemble and Shanghai Opera House. From 2000 to 2003, he was admitted in Central Conservatory of Music for doctorate degree under the supervision of Wu Zuqiang and stayed there to teach composing after 2003.

　　French composer and music critic Professor IVO MALEC once commented: "his‘Guiyi’is a masterpiece of modern music, both in terms of score-keeping or sound". In 1988, the United States environmental theatre master R?SCHECKNER wrote:“... the composer is the best composer alive that I have ever seen”.

　　His main works: the first symphony‘Symphony Fancies Poetry–memory of Ah Wa Mountain’; symphonic poem‘Echo of Earthen Building’,‘Sand Deere Legend - for a large traditional instruments orchestra’,‘Zhongshan Warship–1922’, film music‘The Soul of Painting’and so on; these works has won many honors for him:‘the 14th Shanghai Spring" award, "Gold Eagle" and gold medal and silver medal from the first "Golden Bell Award".