Mr. Ma Chueng Lai is a renowned national and international legend ranking actor at the Beijing Opera Theater of Beijing. He belongs to national treasure of Chinese Opera. He is also the Board member of the following national organizations: Communist People Elected Representative for Arts, Chinese Opera International Association for Cultural Exchanges, China's Dramatists Association and Beijing City's Dramatists Association, etc. Born in a family of Peking opera artists, he took lessons in Peking opera from his father since his childhood. At age 8 he became a student of Rong Chun She and learned from many opera performing artists, i.e. Master Ma Lien Liang, Tan Fu Ying, Liu Sheng Tung, Lai Xi Fu, Wang Shao Feng, Zhang Yu Chian, Chiou Sheng Rong, etc. Combined with his in-born talented in the arts and diligence and intelligence in Chinese Performing Arts, he has achieved many high accomplishment in the "New Ma Style". He has taught many students since he becomes a teacher of Beijing Opera Troupe in Beijing.

With an impressive stage presentation and a mellow voice, Mr. Ma Cheung Lai is exceptionally skillful in varying his breathing, pitch and vocal tonality for artistic expression. His performance in singing is measured with smooth flow, and his vocal expression is refreshing, minute and elegant. Ma Cheung Lai is very adept at assuming the personae of stage characters. He makes effort to fully understand the roles he plays. He is good at expressing the spirit and lofty quality of each character through his eyes, which, coupled with his skills in singing and acting, brings the character alive on stage. He is indeed one of the geniuses in theatrical performance in the world.

With profound accomplishments in Peking opera, Mr. Ma Cheung Lai has incorporated the operatic styles of different schools such as Yu, Yang and Ma and is capable of thoroughly presenting modern and classical characters alike. Mr. Ma is a versatile actor; he is not only expert at playing Lao Sheng roles but excels at playing other roles as well. He has won critical acclaim for his animate performance in spirit and in form as well as his vivid presentation of different roles. He has visited many countries in actors of Peking opera at home and abroad.

In the course of his artistic career, Ma Cheung Lai has modestly sought the counsel of senior performing artists and has received instruction from Ma Lien Liang, Tan Fu Ying, Chiou Sheng Rong, Yang Bao Shen, Xi Hsiao Bao, among others. His repertoire includes Silang Visits His Mother, The Dragon Palace, The Red-Mane Steed, Shikongzhan, Wu Zixu, The Orphan of Zhao, Ganlu Temple, Match-Making for the No. 1 Scholar, The Capture and Release of Cao, Sanjia Shop, Generals of the Yang House, etc. Ma Cheung Lai's best expertize is collaborated on the long-standing basis with Mr. Ma Lien Liang, Zhang Jun Xiou, Xiou Sheng Rong, for the famous stories of Chin Xiang Lien, The Night at San Jia Inn, Si Lang Visits His Mother, The Orphan of Zhao, The Pearl Curtain, Chin Feng Panoramic View Point, Dinner at Yu Long Jiu Guan, Preying the Wind to Blow From the East, Beating the Nephew to Learn to be a Good Man, etc.

Mr. Ma Cheung Lai has recorded and published many movies, VCD and audio tapes for his performances. He has taughts many students and everyone has devoted their effort to promote Chinese Opera in China and overseas. Ma Cheung Lai's contribution of Chinese Opera promotion in the history is greatly accepted by national and international Chinese Opera lovers. Ma Cheung Lai is also collaborating in performing modern Peking opera pieces, and his Story of a Sha Jia Group caused a sensation. He became famous to perfom Diau De Yi as a bad general in Chinese civil war of 1940's. His performing skills has explored to the ultimate degree.

Mr. Ma Cheung Lai's best student, Shu Zhang, currently serves as a performing and vocal instructor at NYJPW Chinese Arts and Culture Association, Inc. since 2001. Under Shu Zhang's direction, Cheng-Hua Wang, the president of NYJPW, has successfully performed Ultimate Sacrifice and Escape from Tsao Tsao at Shanghai, Beijing and New York. On September 19, 2003, Cheng-Hua Wang will perform The Orphan of Zhao at Lincoln Center, New York. All the professional skills that Cheng Hua has learned from Shu Zhang, actually came from the long term observation of Ma Cheung Lai. It takes years for one to understand and really appreciate the depth knowledge of Chinese Opera.

In recognition of Mr. Ma Cheung Lai's contribution to Chinese Opera, NYJPW is greatly presenting the lifetime extraordinary award to Mr. Ma Cheung Lai for his painstaking effort in promoting Peking opera overseas and international cultural exchange and direction of Chinese Opera.