Xiao Lei Salovara - Harpist

Xiao Lei Salovara, a native of Shanghai, China, began to study the violin and piano with her parents at the age of four. Her mother is the first Chinese harp professor in China. Her father is a world well-known violin professor. At the age of nine, Xiao Lei (as in Swiss “Chalet”) was one of twenty-eight children chosen in a national selection to be enrolled in the Music Elementary School in Shanghai as a piano major. She studied harp with her mother at the Music High School attached to Shanghai Conservatory.

From 1972 to 1978, Xiao Lei was the principal harpist with the Shanghai Peking-opera. In 1978, she was a prize winner of the Shanghai Young Artists Competition. From 1978 to 1984, she held the position of the principal harp with the Shanghai Film Orchestra. In 1983, she was awarded a medal for her outstanding film recordings and was elected The Woman of the Year by The National Film Association of China.

In 1984, Xiao Lei came to the United States to study with the world renowned harp teacher, the former Cleveland Orchestra principal harpist Alice Chalifoux. Xiao Lei received her Bachelor of Music degree with Valedictory and Annual Prizes from the Cleveland Institute of Music (CIM). She has also received her Master of Music and Artist Diploma of Music from CIM.

In 1988 Xiao Lei appeared on the Johnny Carson Tonight Show as a guest performer. She has also performed with celebrities like Yanni and Pavarotti.

In 1990, Xiao Lei was appointed as a faculty member of the Cleveland Institute of Music Preparatory Harp Department. In 1993 and 1994, Xiao Lei performed and recorded with the Cleveland Orchestra. She was a harpist with Toledo symphony and Wheeling Symphony for many years, and has performed with Ohio Chamber, Cleveland Opera, Cleveland Ballet, and many other orchestras. In 1995, she was appointed as a faculty member of Baldwin-Wallace Conservatory. Since 1997, Xiao Lei has been live performing on WCLV-FM 95.5 classical music station frequently.

Xiao Lei released her first harp and flute classical CD in July 1998. Her second pop solo album was released in November, 1999.

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Photo by New Image Photography
Xiao Lei performs at Areal Maduri and Danny Cesario's wedding, Barrington Country Club, August 2007