Yan Liangkun, vice chairman of China Association of Musicians, board chairman of Academy of Chorus and Conduction, conductor of Central Orchestra, was born in 1923 in Wuhan. He began his career of conductor as early as 1938 in the "Singing Movement in Fighting against Japan's invasion and Saving China from Extinction". In 1940, he conducted "Children's Troupe" to perform the Yellow River Chorus in public for the first time. In 1942, he was enrolled by department of music theory and composition, National Conservatory of Music, becoming a student of Professor Jiang Dingxian and learning conduct from Mr. Wu Chaobo. After his graduation in 1947, he went to Hong Kong Chinese Conservatory of Music, engaged in composition and conduct teaching.

After the founding of New China in 1949, Yan taught in Central Conservatory of Music and assumed chorus conductor of school's Youth Working Group. In 1952, he assumed chorus conductor of Central Song and Dance Troop. In 1954, he went to the former Soviet Union to pursue further study. He became a postgraduate of department of conduct, Tchaikovsky Conservatory of Music, a student of Anosov and Sokolov, majored in symphony and chorus conduct. In 1958, he came back and assumed conductor of China Central Chorus. In 1959, he conducted Beethoven's 9th Symphony as an offering for the celebration of National Day. In 1961, he conducted the first chorus concert. In 1964, he assumed the principal first conductor for the thousand-people chorus of the music and dance epic "Oriental Red". In 1979, he led Central Chorus to attend the 1st session of International Chorus Festival in Philippines. In 1982, he conducted chorus of Central Orchestra to perform West European opera.

In 1983, Yan was awarded certification and souvenir badge by Hungary Kodaly Souvenir Council for his contribution to the introduction of Kodaly's works and teaching methods. In 1985, he led Central Chorus to attend "Yellow River Music Festival" in Hong Kong, and then attended "Asia Art Festival" in Hong Kong by invitation. In 1986, he assumed a member of standing committee and the leader of conductor group in the 2nd session of "Beijing Chorus Festival". In the same year, he was elected the dean of newly established "Academy of Chorus Conduct".

Yan successively led delegation to conduct performance in North America, Southeast Asia, Taiwan and Hong Kong. He also often gave lectures by invitation in many places. Yan is one of the founders of the cause of professional chorus in China. His style of conduct is exquisite and precise, with simple motions. Yan is an outstanding Chinese artist of chorus conductor.