Qin Li-Wei

Qin Li-Wei is a Professor of Cello at the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music, National University of Singapore. Previously, he held a Professorship at the Royal Northern College of Music, Manchester, and serves as a guest professor at Shanghai and Central Conservatories of Music in China. Renowned for his virtuosic performances, he has won major international competitions including the Tchaikovsky Silver Medal and Naumburg Competition First Prize. His career spans solo appearances with leading orchestras worldwide, including the BBC Symphony, Los Angeles Philharmonic, and London Philharmonic. He has collaborated with conductors like Sir Andrew Davis and Yu Long, and artists such as Daniel Hope and Misha Maisky.

Li-Wei’s discography includes recordings for Universal Music/Decca and Sony Classical, featuring works by Beethoven, Rachmaninov, Dvořák, and Elgar. Notable engagements include performances at the BBC Proms, 2008 Beijing Olympics, and Davos Forum. Educated in Australia, he studied under Ralph Kirshbaum (Royal Northern College of Music) and David Takeno (Guildhall School of Music). He plays a 1780 Joseph Guadagnini cello.

• Key Achievements: Olympic Performances (2008 Beijing, 2012 London), Proms Appearances, Live Recording Releases
• Residencies: Melbourne Symphony (Shanghai), China Philharmonic (Europe)

His teaching spans three continents, emphasizing technical mastery and artistic interpretation. Recent seasons included debuts with the Vienna Radio Symphony and Malaysian Philharmonic, alongside chamber music at Wigmore Hall and Lincoln Center.