Rong Zheng

Rong ZHENG (1941 May - 2023 October): Originally named Rongshi ZHENG, of Shanghai descent, was a composer. He once served as the Deputy Chairman and Secretary-General of the Jiangsu Provincial Acrobatic Artists Association and its legal representative. He was a board member of the China Acrobatics Artists Association, a member of the China Musicians Association, a board member of the Chinese National Instrumental Music Association, the President of the Chinese Acrobatics Music Research Association, and a member of the Jiangsu Federation of Literary and Art Circles.

From a young age, Rongshi ZHENG studied music with his mother and brother and participated in a Christian choir. During his high school years, he was a solo performer in the Nanjing City High School Student Art Troupe. During the 1950s, he studied vocal music with Cheng Shuan at Nanjing Normal University. In 1960, he joined the Nanjing City Song and Dance Troupe as a cellist and studied under Professor Ji Hanwen. In 1963, he transferred to the Nanjing City National Music Troupe. In 1969, he joined the Nanjing City Acrobatics Troupe, serving as a performer, composer, and conductor. In 1980, he accompanied the troupe on a tour to Australia. From 1983 to 1985, he was hired as the art director and orchestra conductor of the Nanjing University Student Art Troupe. In 1986, he transferred to the Jiangsu Federation of Literary and Art Circles. In 1964, he played a key role in the reform of the national stringed instrument, the four-stringed Erhu, and participated in two national instrument conferences. He published papers such as "Issues in the Development of National String Instruments" and "On China's National Bass Stringed Instruments" in publications such as Chinese Music and Musical Instruments.

Key Achievements:Starting in 1969, Zheng Rongshi dedicated himself to composing music for acrobatics, including performances involving pole balancing, umbrella balancing, hoop diving, bowl kicking, and ball skills. He was the composer of the "Hand Balancing" and "Bowl Tossing" groups, which won the Gold Award of the President of the French Republic at the 7th World Festival of Youth and Students and the 3rd World Youth and Students Festival. His composition for the "Diabolo" acrobatic performance won the Gold Award at the inaugural "New Seed Cup" national competition and the first Jiangsu Literature and Art Award. His composition for "Rope Skills" (in collaboration) in acrobatics received a bronze medal at the 2nd Wuqiao International Acrobatics Festival in 1984. In 1984, he served as the chief editor of Jiangsu Acrobatics Music. His paper "On the Creation of Acrobatics Music" won the first prize for outstanding papers at the first national acrobatics theory seminar, published in Chinese Music (Issue 3, 1993). His paper "A Brief Discussion on the Characteristics and Functions of Acrobatics Music Imagery" was included in the book Acrobatics Art Theory, published by Guizhou People's Publishing House in August 1992. From 1996 to 1998, he led the acrobatics troupe on tours to Japan, Kazakhstan, France, and other countries. In 2014, he was honored with the "Jiangsu Provincial Artistic Contribution Award" by the Jiangsu Federation of Literary and Art Circles.

Personal Life:Rong Zheng married LingJing Zhang, a performer of China opera, in 1967. Their daughters are Lei Errenst of Germany and Li Zheng of Gaithersburg, Maryland. Rong and Lingjing moved to Gaithersburg in 2016 to live in retirement near Li. He passed away on Sunday, October 22, 2023, due to complications from COPD and pneumonia. A private funeral service will be held at DeVol Funeral Home, 10 East Deer Park Drive, Gaithersburg, Maryland, on Monday, October 30, 9:30-10:30 am. Burial services will be held at Parklawn Memorial Cemetery, 12800 Veirs Mill Road, Rockville, Maryland, on Monday, October 30, 2023, at 11:30 am. Should you wish, you are welcome to sign the family guest book at www.devolfuneralhome.com.

郑荣简介中文版：郑荣 (1941年5月- 2023年10月): 原名郑荣世，祖藉上海，作曲家���曾任江苏省杂技艺术家协会驻会副主席兼秘书长、法人代表。中国杂技艺术家协会理事、中国音乐家协会会员、中国民族器乐学会理事、中华杂技音乐研究会会长、江苏省文联委员。郑荣自幼随母、兄学习音乐，参加基督教唱诗班。中学时是南京市中学生艺术团独唱演员。1958年，从师南京师范大学程淑安学习声乐。1960年入南京市歌舞团，任大提琴演奏员，从师于纪汉文教授。1963年，调南京市民族乐团。1969年，调南京市杂技团，历任演奏员、作曲、乐队指挥。1980年，随团赴澳大利亚演出。1983年至1985年，应聘任南京大学学生文工团艺术指导兼乐队指挥。1986年调江苏省文联。1964年，改革民族乐器四弦大胡，曾两次参加全国乐器会议。有《民族拉弦乐器发展问题》、《谈我国民族低音拉弦乐器》等论文发表于《中国音乐》、《乐器》等刊物。主要成就：自1969年始，致力于杂技音乐创作，曾为扛杆、蹬伞、地圈、踢碗、球技等杂技作曲。是南京市杂技团参加第七届世界明日节、第三届世界未来节中，获法兰西共和国最高总统金奖的“手技”、“顶碗”剧组的作曲者。作曲的《皮条》杂技音乐，获第一次全国“新苗杯”金奖，并获首届江苏省文学艺术奖。作曲的《绳技》（合作）杂技音乐，参加第二届吴桥国际杂技节演出获铜奖。1984年，主编了《江苏杂技音乐》。论文《谈杂技音乐的创作》获第一次全国杂技理论研讨会优秀论文一等奖，发表于《中国音乐》（1993年第3期）；论文《简论杂技音乐形象的特性与功能》入选《杂技艺术论》一书，1992年8月由贵州人民出版社出版。1996-1998期年，率杂技团赴日本、哈萨克斯坦、法国等地巡回演出。2014年荣获江苏省文联的“江苏省艺术贡献奖”。