The Great Wall International Music Academy in Beijing is proud to announce the formation of the Great Wall String Quartet. The creation of this new chamber music ensemble is the brainchild of Kurt Sassmannshaus, president of the Academy, to celebrate the fifth anniversary of the organization. The quartet, which gathers four of the most successful and accomplished young Chinese artists today, will further enhance the successful chamber music tradition of the Academy. As the first international summer program for young string soloists in China, the Great Wall International Music Academy has brought an enthusiasm and true renaissance of chamber music to Chinese musicians and conservatories.

Though living and working in two different continents, the members of the quartet have collaborated in concerts and performances long before the establishment of the Great Wall String Quartet. Coming from different backgrounds, they will unite their talent and passion, share their knowledge in music, and use music as the universal language to let their intimate and heartfelt interpretations be the bridge to connect to each other and to the audience.

Wei LU, the concertmaster of the Deutsches Symphony-Orchester Berlin, (formerly the Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra) was the first violinist selected to join the Anne-Sophie Mutter Circle of Friends Foundation. His concertmaster position, which was filled after 17 auditions, makes him one of the youngest concertmasters around the world leading a major orchestra.

Qi ZHOU was invited by Maestro Justus Frantz to join the Philharmonie der Nationen as their second violin principal prior to his appointment as a violinist of the Munich Philharmonic in 2001. He was later chosen by the Munich Philharmonic to join its prestigious chamber orchestra, Philharmonisches Kammerorchester Muenchen.

Before joining the San Diego Symphony Orchestra, Taiwanese violist Chi-Yuan CHEN, was a winner of the 2004 International Paris Viola Competition, Ville d’Avary. He has also frequently performed with the Boston Chamber Music Society, and collaborated with distinguished artists including members of the Arditti, Brentano, Emerson, Guarneri, Mendelssohn, and the Cleveland Quartet, Colin Carr, Ani Kavafian and Yo-Yo Ma.

Described by the New York Concert Review as “a superb cellist with intense and sensuous sound,” and by the Los Angeles Times as “being able to handle the most intricate musical works with unblinking ease and expressive zeal,” cellist Yao ZHAO is the principal cellist of the San Diego Symphony Orchestra. He has also been teaching at the Idyllwild Arts Academy and Idyllwild Arts Summer Festival since 2000.

The four artists perform on a group of outstanding instruments. Wei Lu’s violin is a 1729 Dominicus Montagana from Venice, sponsored by Mr. and Mrs. Rin Kim-Min of Singapore. Qi Zhou plays on a Nicolaus Gagliano, 1738 which belongs to the Munich Philharmonic. The oldest instrument in the quartet, Chi-Yuan Chen’s viola is made by Christophrus Klingler, circa. 1650. Yao Zhao has the most interesting instrument of the group, a cut down cello believed to be made by the Roman maker David Techler in the early 1700s.

In addition to its residency at the Great Wall Academy, the debut season of the Great Wall String Quartet includes invitations to perform in many Asian Cities including Macau, Hong Kong, Shenzhen and Beijing. As an extension of the Great Wall International Music Academy, the Quartet will bring the “Great Wall Music Spirit” to the local audiences and students through performances, master classes and seminars throughout the year.

The Great Wall String Quartet is represented by Asia Pacific Arts Management Ltd.