Wen Xiao Zheng

Principal viola

Born in China in 1981, Wen Xiao Zheng was accepted as a violin student at the Conservatory in Shanghai at the age of ten. At 14, he switched to the viola and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree cum laude.

Further stages of his musical training include the Escuela Superiorde Música Reina Sofia in Madrid, where he studied with Gérard Caussé, the Music Academy in the German city of Detmold – at this time Diemut Poppen was his musical mentor – and the Music Academy in Munich, where he was instructed by Hariolf Schlichtig. In 2009, he completed his education with a concert examination and a diploma in chamber music. He received further motivation in master classes with Yuri Bashmet.

At the National China Violin Competition, he won the first prize, as he did at the “Ciudad de Xàtiva” and “Llandes Múscia” competitions in Spain. In Moscow, he received the special prize for the best chamber musician. Munich concert audiences were introduced to Wen Xiao Zheng when he won a second prize at the ARD Music Competition. That year no first prize was awarded. The Audience Prize was also presented to Wen Xiao Zheng.

The violist acquired orchestral experience with the Berlin Philharmonic, the Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks and the Bavarian State Orchestra.

His chamber music partners include Ana Chumachenco, Daniel Hope, Yuri Bashmet, Nicolas Alststädt, Maximilian Hornung and the Rodin Quartet.

From 2010 - 2013 Wen Xiao Zheng already was part of Bamberg Symphony as Principal Viola player. In early 2014 he became principal viola player in the Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks in Munich. In season 2019/2020 he returned to Bamberg Symphony.