Liu Yang was born in Hunan in 1973. At the age of seven, he was introduced to the piano by his father, Master Liu Zichuo. In 1985, he entered the Conservatory of Music in Wuhan as a student of the erhu major. In 1991, he was admitted to the Central Conservatory of Music, where he studied under the renowned erhu performer and educator, Professor Liu Changfu. Over the past three decades of his career, he has held positions in various orchestras including the China Broadcasting National Orchestra, the China Central National Orchestra, the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra, and the Suzhou National Orchestra. Currently, he serves as the artistic director and deputy director of the American Southern California Chinese Orchestra, as well as a professor and director of the String Department at the Canadian Talent Music Institute.

In March 2026, he was invited to join the Asian Art Association Singapore (Chinese Traditional Instruments), serving as a judge for the "World Erhu Competition" and becoming a Lifetime member.

Liu Yang has won numerous awards in competitions. In 1982, he won the silver medal in the First National Children's Ethnic Instrument Solo Competition. In 1995, he received the Excellent Award in the Erhu Professional Group of the Fu Liutong Cup International Chinese Instrument Solo Competition, and in 1995, he won the First Prize (First Place) in the Tianhua Cup National Youth Erhu Professional Group Competition.

Liu Yang successfully held solo concerts in 1990 and 2000 respectively. He also participated in the "National Erhu Symposium for the 30th Anniversary of Huang Hai's Death" in Wuhan and performed solo at the commemorative concert and served as the principal of the orchestra. He joined the "Asian Orchestra" composed of ethnic instrumentalists from China, South Korea and Japan and served as the principal of the orchestra. He also held a solo concert at the "Centennial Concert of Erhu" organized by the Chinese Erhu Association. He has visited 10 countries and regions including the United States, Germany, France, Denmark, etc.