Wei Fugen was enrolled into the Primary School Affiliated to the Shanghai Conservatory of Music at the age of 9 to learn piano and performed solo at Shanghai Spring concert at 12. Later he entered the Military Song and Dance Troupe. In 1979 he entered Shanghai Philharmonic, and he was frequently designated to accompany for Chinese singers in international contests and performances. In 1986 he went to the USA and was hired by several vocal classes including that of Professor Rose Bampton of The Juilliard School as the accompanist, and he also joined hands with several Chinese famous singers in the Metropolitan Opera to perform from place to place. He was also included in CDs with songs by Lu Zaiyi, Ding Shande and Liao Changyong. In 2005 he was designated to accompany for Italian opera master Carlo Bergonzi in Beijing and international vocal music contests. Since 2006 he was appointed as a foreign professor by the SHCM. Apart from his work in the Voice and Opera Department, Wei Fugen also teaches piano accompanying in the Piano Department and is a professional teacher of opera art direction in the Conducting Department.
