楊兆禎（1929-2004），聲樂家、音樂教育家、作曲家。出生於新竹州芎林庄（今新竹縣芎林鄉）。受父親喜愛文學影響，又隨堂伯信仰基督教，時常於教會中吟唱聖詩。1947年考入臺灣省立新竹師範學校（今國立清華大學）普通科，分別就李永剛、呂泉生、林樹興學習理論作曲、聲樂與鋼琴。1959年獲母校聘任，全力投入音樂師資培育，並歌曲創作，例如〈搖〉與〈農家好〉等。又熱衷於採集客家民謠，錄音採譜留下記錄，於1974年完成《客家民謠九腔十八調的研究》，為臺灣第一本客家民謠學術論文，亦是第一位將客家山歌納入音樂會的聲樂家。1992年，擔任改制後的國立新竹師範學院音樂學系創系主任。楊兆禎終生貢獻於音樂教育與客家音樂，曾獲客家文化傑出貢獻獎與新竹之光 — 終身成就獎」等獎項。

YANG Zhao-Zhen was an ethnomusicologist, music educator, vocal performer and composer. He was born in Hsinchu County's Qionglin Township on July 2, 1929 and died in Nantou County's Puli Township on Dec. 10, 2004. In 1992, he established the music department at National Hsinchu University of Education. Yang spent his entire life writing songs, teaching music and promoting Hakka folksongs. He completed Taiwan's first scholarly book on Hakka folksongs. Yang was the first music educator to use creative teaching methods in Taiwan and the first musician to include Hakka folksongs in formal concert repertoire. He received the award for Outstanding Contribution to Hakka Culture and the "Light of Hsinchu — Lifetime Achievement Award."