Yu Sun

Viola Soloist

Sun is currently the Principal Viola at Tonhalle Orchestra Zurich. In 2007-09, he joined Berliner Philharmoniker as Guest Viola and toured throughout Europe with world-leading conductors. He served as Principal Viola at Gewandhausorchester Leipzig, Sinfonieorchester Basel as well as Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra, and was a member of Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks. He also played as Guest Principal Viola at Staatsoper Hamburg and Philharmonisches Staatsorchester Hamburg. As a soloist, Sun performed with the China National Centre for the Performing Arts Orchestra and Konzerthausorchester Berlin. He has also performed in chamber music concert in Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Korea and the Mainland.

Born in Shanghai, Sun Yu started learning violin at the age of four, and changed to train in viola at the age of fourteen. A year later, he was admitted to The Music Middle School Affiliated to Shanghai Conservatory of Music with the highest marks in the entrance examination. In 2001, he entered the Conservatory for formal training. During the studies, he won a Class Two Award in the All China Viola Competition and a Class Three Award in the Beijing Young Instrumentalists Concerto Competition.

After graduating from the Shanghai Conservatory of Music, Sun continued his studies in Europe. In 2004, he received training at the Escuela Superior de Musica Reina Sofia in Madrid under Rainer Schmidt, a member of the Hagen Quartet. In 2006, he entered Hochschule für Musik Hanns Eisler Berlin to receive further training under the violist, Tabea Zimmermann. He received a Master’s degree in 2009, followed by Konzertexamen (Doctor’s degree) which he passed with full marks.

資料來源：New Hong Kong Philharmonia