December 6, 1955:
Sheng Zong Liang (Bright Sheng) is born in Shanghai, Peoples Republic of China.
April 16, 1988:
H'un (Lacerations): In Memoriam 1966-1976 for orchestra by Bright Sheng (32) is performed for the first time, in New York. The work expresses the composer's feelings about the Chinese Cultural Revolution.
August 26, 1988:
Three Chinese Love Songs for voice, viola, and piano by Bright Sheng (32) is performed for the first time, at Tanglewood, Lenox, Massachusetts in celebration of the 70th birthday of Leonard Bernstein. Also premiered is Lenny B. a song for voice, violin, and piano by David Del Tredici (51) to words of Conarroe. The composer plays piano.
September 22, 1989:
Arias and Barcarolles for soprano, baritone, and piano four-hands by Leonard Bernstein (71), to words of Jennie Bernstein, Segal, and the composer, orchestrated by Bright Sheng (33), is performed for the first time, at Tilles Center, Long Island University.
October 28, 1989:
Three Chinhai Folk Songs for chorus and orchestra by Bright Sheng (33) is performed for the first time, in Boston.
November 11, 1989:
At the 92nd Street Y, New York, Peter Serkin plays a program of eleven premieres of works for piano he commissioned. Included are Interlude I for by Leon Kirchner (70), Feurklavier by Luciano Berio (64), Piano Piece by Hans Werner Henze (63), Les Yeux clos II by Toru Takemitsu (59), the first piece from ...in real time op.50 by Alexander Goehr (57), and My Song by Bright Sheng (33).
April 24, 1990:
Four Movements for Piano Trio by Bright Sheng (34) is performed for the first time, in Alice Tully Hall, New York.
October 20, 1990:
The Stream Flows for violin by Bright Sheng (34) is performed for the first time, at the New England Conservatory of Music, Boston. The work is dedicated to Hugo Weisgall (78).
April 9, 1992:
The Song of Majnun, an opera by Bright Sheng (36) to words of Porter, is performed for the first time, in Chicago.
September 15, 1995:
China Dreams for orchestra by Bright Sheng (39) is performed for the first time, in Seattle.
January 22, 1999:
Postcards for chamber orchestra by Bright Sheng (43) is performed for the first time, in Ordway Music Theatre, St. Paul.
January 2, 2000:
Nanking! Nanking!, a threnody for pipa and orchestra by Bright Sheng (44) is performed for the first time.
January 6, 2000:
Red Silk Dance for piano and orchestra by Bright Sheng (44) is performed for the first time, in Symphony Hall, Boston.
October 24, 2001:
Bright Sheng (45) receives a MacArthur Fellowship worth $500,000.
April 26, 2002:
Tibetan Swing for orchestra by Bright Sheng (46) is performed for the first time, in Brooklyn, New York.
July 26, 2003:
Madame Mao, an opera by Bright Sheng (47) to words of Graham, is performed for the first time, in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
February 5, 2004:
The Phoenix for soprano and orchestra by Bright Sheng (48), to his own words after Andersen, is performed for the first time, in Seattle.
April 25, 2004:
Boatmen’s Song, the first of the Two Folk Songs for female or children’s chorus and harp by Bright Sheng (48) is performed for the first time, at the 92nd Street Y in New York. See 18 February 2012.
September 16, 2004:
Colors of Crimson, a fantasy for marimba and orchestra by Bright Sheng (48), is performed for the first time, in Luxembourg.
January 16, 2005:
La’i for orchestra by Bright Sheng (49) is performed for the first time, in Dortmund.
May 19, 2006:
Three Fantasies for violin and piano by Bright Sheng (50) is performed for the first time, at the Library of Congress, Washington.
September 7, 2006:
A Night at the Chinese Opera for violin and piano by Bright Sheng (50) is performed for the first time, in Indianapolis.
May 20, 2007:
My Other Song for piano by Bright Sheng (51) is performed for the first time, in Rose Theatre, New York.
June 8, 2007:
The Nightingale and the Rose, a ballet by Bright Sheng (51) to a choreography by Wheeldon, is performed for the first time, at the New York State Theatre, Lincoln Center.
October 18, 2007:
String Quartet no.5 “The Miraculous” by Bright Sheng (51) is performed for the first time, in the Staller Center for the Arts, SUNY Stony Brook.
November 27, 2007:
Shanghai Overture for orchestra by Bright Sheng (51) is performed for the first time, at Shanghai Conservatory.
October 24, 2008:
Never Far Away for harp and orchestra by Bright Sheng (52) is performed for the first time, in San Diego.
July 3, 2010:
Northern Lights for cello and piano by Bright Sheng (54) is performed for the first time, at Troldhaugen, near Bergen, Norway.
July 10, 2010:
Just Dance, a ballet by Bright Sheng (54), is performed for the first time, at Guilford College, Greensboro, North Carolina.
September 10, 2010:
Hot Pepper for violin and marimba by Bright Sheng (54) is performed for the first time, in Santa Barbara, California.
April 8, 2011:
An arrangement of Shanghai Overture by Bright Sheng (55) for band is performed for the first time, in Hill Auditorium, Ann Arbor, Michigan.
February 3, 2012:
The Singing Gobi Desert for erhu/zhonghu, sheng, pipa, yangqin, and saxophone quartet by Bright Sheng (56) is performed for the first time, in Weill Recital Hall of Carnegie Hall, New York.
February 11, 2012:
Dance Capriccio for piano and string quartet by Bright Sheng (56) is performed for the first time, in Seligman Performing Arts Center, Detroit.
February 18, 2012:
Thirty-Mile Village for children’s or women’s chorus and harp, the second of the Two Folk Songs by Bright Sheng (56) is performed for the first time, in Zankel Hall of Carnegie Hall, New York. See 25 April 2004.
April 10, 2012:
Melodies of a Flute for flute/alto flute, marimba/cymbals, violin, and cello by Bright Sheng (56) is performed for the first time, in Huntington Library, San Marino, California.
October 26, 2012:
The Blazing Mirage for cello and string orchestra by Bright Sheng (56) is performed for the first time, in Hong Kong.
November 16, 2012:
A Porter’s Song for chorus by Bright Sheng (56), to Chinese folk words, is performed for the first time, at Harvard University.
October 4, 2013:
Let Fly for violin and orchestra by Bright Sheng (57) is performed for the first time, in Detroit.
April 4, 2014:
Concerto for Orchestra: Zodiac Tales by Bright Sheng (58) is performed for the first time, in Detroit.
July 21, 2014:
Deep Red for marimba and chamber ensemble by Bright Sheng (58) is performed for the first time, in Greensboro, North Carolina.
August 20, 2014:
Angel Fire Duo for violin and viola by Bright Sheng (58) is performed for the first time, at the Angel Fire Community Center, New Mexico.
September 10, 2016:
Dream of the Red Chamber, an opera by Bright Sheng (60) to words of Hwang and the composer, is performed for the first time, in San Francisco.
November 3, 2018:
Clearwater Rhapsody for erhu, violin, cello, and piano by Bright Sheng (62) is performed for the first time, at the University of Delaware, Newark.