Described by Philip Roth in The Strad as “a significant world-class artist”, Qian Zhou is recognized internationally as a violinist, recording artist and teacher of the first rank. Born in Hangzhou, China, Qian Zhou had her early training at the Shanghai Conservatory, winning first prize in the China National Competition in 1984. In 1985, she went to the United States where she completed her studies with Berl Senofsky at the Peabody Conservatory. At the age of only 18, Qian Zhou received instant world-wide recognition at the 1987 Marguerite Long-Jacques Thibaud Competition in Paris, winning the First Grand Prize and all five major prizes. Her victory and the international attention it drew enabled her immediate access to the major halls and performing opportunities around the globe. A frequent recitalist and soloist with orchestras in Europe, United States, Asia and Africa. Qian Zhou’s ten CDs with the Naxos, Hugo and Hungaraton labels have embraced a wide range of repertoire from Bach to Bartok, drawing praise of the highest calibre. As the founding Head of Strings at the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music, she has combined her very active performance career with a passion for teaching which has now received equivalent high-level endorsement to that of her playing. With students already achieving considerable international success in Europe, Asia, America and Australasia, she is in much demand world-wide for masterclasses and as a participant in international juries.
‘Li-Wei drew the audience in with his artistry, his brilliant virtuosity and his very refined musicality and sincerity of interpretation’ was the description of the cellist following his performance at the 11th Tchaikovsky International Competition where he was awarded the Silver Medal. He also won the First Prize in the prestigious 2001 Naumburg Competition in New York.
Since then, Li-Wei Qin has appeared all over the world as a soloist and chamber musician, enjoying successful artistic collaborations with renowned ensembles such as the Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin, London Philharmonic, Prague Symphony, BBC Philharmonic, Osaka Philharmonic, BBC Symphony, KBS Symphony, Sydney Symphony, BBC Scottish Symphony, Hong Kong Philharmonic, Sinfonia Varsovia, NDR Sinfonieorchester Hamburg, Konzerthausorchester Berlin, BBC National Orchestra of Wales, Deutsch Staatsphilharmonie, Shanghai Symphony, Korean Symphony, Singapore Symphony, Auckland Philharmonia and Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, Kremerata Baltica and the Munich, Zurich and Australian Chamber Orchestras.
In recital and chamber music, Li-Wei is a regular guest at Wigmore Hall, the BBC Proms and the City of London, Jerusalem, Rheingau and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern Music Festivals, the Lincoln Centre Chamber Music Society, New York, the Australian Festival of Chamber Music, Townsville and Musica Viva. Li-Wei’s chamber music collaborators have included musicians such as Daniel Hope, Nobuko Imai, Mischa Maisky, David Finckel, Wu Han, Vladimir Mendelssohn and Peter Frankel.
Li-Wei Qin is an exclusive Universal Music China Artist and has recorded concertos with the Singapore Symphony and London Philharmonic orchestras. He has also recorded an acclaimed set of complete Beethoven Cello Sonatas for Decca.