Shenzhen Symphony Orchestra (SSO)

Shenzhen Symphony Orchestra (SSO) was founded in 1982 with the support of the Shenzhen Municipal Government. The orchestra has grown into one of China’s finest professional orchestras after more than 30 years of explorations and efforts. The orchestra has since distinguished itself as having a high level of excellence and a rising international profile. Violinist Mr Nie Bing is the current president of the orchestra, Maestro Yu Long as Artistic Advisor, Music Director is the distinguished conductor Lin Daye.
Until 2007, well-known Chinese conductors such as Yao Guan Rong, Zhang Guoyong, and Yu Feng have held the position of Music Directors of the orchestra in the past. Christian Ehwald, the Principal Professor of ‘Hanns Eisler’ Conservatory of Music’s Conducting Department in Berlin, assumed the position of Music Director from 2008 to July 2016. Since August 2016, famous young conductor Lin Daye has appointed as the Music Director of the orchestra.
The orchestra has toured regularly around China since 1987, making stops in many cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, Hangzhou, Sichuan and Xinjiang. The orchestra has also done regional tours in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macao in that time. On the international stage, it has toured in over four continents, spanning countries such as the United States, Canada, Czech Republic, Poland, Germany, Italy, France, Turkey, South Africa, Singapore, Indonesia, India, Korea, Thailand and other cities and has received international acclaims.
Since 1994, the orchestra has participated in major festivals including the 4th China Art Festival, 3rd China-International Piano Concerto Competition, Shenzhen-International Piano Concerto Competition, China Conducting Competition Concert, Beijing Modern Music Festival, National Center for the Performing Arts Festival, Shenzhen ICIF Art Festival, Turkey Istanbul Music Festival, Izmir Music Festival, Ankala Music Festival, Mittelfest, Ravello Wagner Music Festival, Bellini Music Festival, French Dinar Music Festival and 1st World Buddhism Symposium. They have received many praises in regard to these various performances. They have also been involved in many events on the CCTV. In 1997, they were invited to Europe and were the first orchestra from China to perform at the Berlin Philharmonie Hall and Smetana Concert Hall in the Czech Republic. In 2007, they were also the first orchestra from Asia to perform at the Cathedral of Saint-Louis des Invalides in Paris. In 2013, the orchestra was invited by UNESCO to perform the Confucian Symphony” Ode to Humanity” at the UNESCO Headquarters City Hall.
In 2016, the orchestra has received international acclaims for the Chinese New Year Celebration performances in the United States and Canada. “Shenzhen Symphony Orchestra implacable grandeur performance could have graced the pit of any regional opera house in the United States or Europe” by the Washington Post
Throughout the years, the orchestra has cultivated long lasting collaborations with great conductors and soloists such as Lv Qiming, Chen Gang, Tan Dun, Ye Xiaogang, Tang Jianping, Wang Ning, Huang Anlun, Zhang Qianyi, Eric Kunzel; conductors such as Li Delun, Huang Xiaotong, Chen Bianyang, Tang Muhai, Chen Zuohuang, Zheng Xiaoying, Shui Lan, Hu Yongyan, including renowned international conductors such as Kirill Petrenko, Daniel Oren, Edvard Tchivzhel, Guido Johannes Rumstadt, Lior Shambadal, Husco, Michael Foster and Smart. The orchestra has also performed works by famous composers like Lv Qiming, Chen Gang, Tan Dun, Ye Xiaogang, Tang Jianping, Wang Ning, Huang Anlun, Zhang Qianyi, Eric Kunzel; and has featured soloists such as Lang Lang, Li Yundi, Chen Sa, Wang Jian, Qin Liwei, Qian Zhou, Lv Siqing, Ning Feng, Chen Xi, Zhu Dan, Zuo Zhang, Arto Noras, Oxana Yablonskaya, Kun Woo Paik, Antje, Weithaas, Midori and Diana Tishchenko as well as famous singers, Dai Yuqiang, Liao Changyong, Song Zuying, Zhang Liping, Huang Ying, Dilber Yunus, Wu Bixia, Yin Xiumei, He Hui, Jose Carreras, Carlow Struly among others.
On the home front, the orchestra has focused on actively supporting the works of local composers. Noteworthy pieces are the premieres of the Choral Symphony “Ode to Humanity”, “Symphonic Folksongs, Hakka Rhyme” and “Harmony of the Divine Land” which have received critical acclaims from professional musicians, audiences and the media. The orchestra is passionate about supporting the Shenzhen local symphonies. They also perform the works of local composers and promote the culture of Shenzhen annually.
“Being the finest orchestra, performing a public service, and bringing over elegant music into the society” is the motto of the orchestra. Shenzhen Symphony Orchestra aims to propagate and promote music literacy in Shenzhen. The orchestra also hopes to enhance their reputation both in China and abroad with a wide range of repertoire and the cultural awareness of Shenzhen.

Conductor: Lin Daye
Lin Daye, the music director of Shenzhen Symphony Orchestra; Prize winner of the 6th International Conductors’ Competition Sir Georg Solti.
Distinguished young conductor, Lin Daye was born in 1980 in Shandong Province, China. As a child he studied piano and at the age of 15 began to study conducting under tutalage of Prof. Xu Xin, the Conducting Professor of Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing. In 1998, he was accepted into the Shanghai Conservatory of Music to continue his conducting studies with Prof. Zhang Guoyong. In 2000, Lin Daye was participated in a master-class of Maestro Seiji Ozawa, who praised him highly. In 2005, he obtained a scholarship from DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service) and further his conducting studies at the Hochschule für Musik Hanns Eisler in Berlin under the guidance of Prof. Christian Ehwald. During his study in Germany, Daye kept intimate relationship with major orchestras nationally and internationally.
From 2010 to 2015, Lin Daye was appointed as Principal Conductor of the Guangzhou Symphony Orchestra (GSO) and made several concert tours with the GSO in homeland and overseas. In October 2009, the GSO toured Europe, with memorable concert at the Konzerthaus Berlin under the baton of Lin Daye. In 2010, he has toured with the GSO in Bangkok to present two successful concerts for the Thai Royal Family.
In March 2011, he has performed with the GSO at the National Centre for the Performing Arts in Beijing and in October he has toured with GSO again in Europe including the concerts at Teatro La Fenice in Venice, Teatro Verdi in Florence and Liechtenstein Schaan Theater. From 2012 to 2013, he conducted the orchestra on tours to Macau, Taiwan and Singapore for musical cultural exchange. In September 2014, he led the GSO in two concerts in Australia respectively in Sydney and Canberra. In January 2015, he conducted the GSO on its third Europe tour in Zurich, Geneva and Bern of Switzerland. In the GSO 2014/15 Season Opening Concert, he served as the only conductor for the fourth time presenting the Guangzhou New Year’s Concert which inaugurated more than 20 years since 1993.

Guitar: Yang Xuefei
Xuefei Yang is acclaimed as one of the world’s finest classical guitarists. She is hailed as a musical pioneer - born in Beijing, she was the first-ever guitarist in China to enter a music school (Beijing’s Central Conservatoire of Music), and became the first Chinese Guitarist to launch an international professional career. Now based in the UK, she records exclusively for EMI Classics.
Fei’s first public appearance was at the age of ten and received such acclaim that the Spanish Ambassador in China immediately presented her with a concert guitar. Her debut in Madrid at the age of 14 was attended by the composer Joaquín Rodrigo and, when John Williams heard her play, he gave two of his own instruments to Beijing’s Central Conservatoire especially for her and other advanced students. She then went on to become the first Chinese student to be awarded a full postgraduate scholarship to study at London’s Royal
Academy of Music. In recognition of her distinguished career, Fei was awarded ‘Fellowship of the Royal Academy of Music’ in June 2012.
Fei enjoys a truly international career, performing worldwide as a soloist, chamber musician and with leading orchestras. Her success has led her to be invited to many prestigious venues such as Wigmore Hall, all Southbank venues, and Royal Albert Hall in London, as well as the Philharmonie Berlin, Musikhalle Hamburg, Concertgebouw Amsterdam, Konzerthaus Vienna, Auditorio Nacional de Espana, Carnegie Hall & Lincoln Center New York, and the Herbst Theatre San Francisco. In Asia she has appeared at the National Concert Hall Taipei, Hong Kong City Hall, Hong Kong Cultural Center, Esplanade Singapore, Seoul Arts Centre and gave the first guitar recital in the Beijing National Center of Performing Arts. She performs chamber music regularly and has collaborated with musicians such as Jian Wang, Natalie Clein, Ian Bostridge, Rosalind Plowright, Sir James Galway and the Elias String Quartet. Fei is one of the
few guitarists who is frequently invited to play with the world’s leading orchestras including Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, BBC Concert Orchestra, English Chamber Orchestra, Royal Scotland National Orchestra, Royal Liverpool Orchestra, Hamburg Symphony Orchestra, Hong Kong Symphony Orchestra, New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, & Detroit Symphony Orchestra.

Ballet：SISI QIU
Prima Ballerina, Art Producer, Ballet Promotion Ambassador of“China Association of Social & Culture Exchange”, CEO of Beijing Oriantal Swan Culture & Media Co.,Ltd.
Sisi Qiu started ballet at her age 7 in Guangzhou and then joined the Shanghai Dance Academy with her special talent as an unconventional admission Transferred Student. After graduation, she went to Germany for further education and received her Dance Degree from Mannheim Music & Performing Art University. She joined the famed Munich National Ballet in 2002 and showed a high talent in career. Then she got her MBA degree specialized in “Luxury Goods & Fashion Art Industry” of Mod’Art International in Paris.
She’s the youngest artist has been selected as the cover story of the “China Profile” magazine, and she named as “Outstanding Female Artist” of Cartier from “Bazaar”, Annual 100 Influential Ladies 2012 of “INSIDER” magazine, and received the “2014 Outstanding Dancer Award” from Tian Art Foundation, “The Figure” of China News Weekly 2016, and Director of “Committee 2005”.
Sisi Qiu is involving in different artistic activities as Dancer, Creative Producer, Choreographer, Publisher, Filmmaker and Installation Artist in recent years. She’s the producer and leading role for “L’amour en Pointe” Ballet Gala which she invited the well-known French Pianist Richard Clayderman as a celebration for the “China-France 50 Years”. She organized the “Chinese L’amant” Ballet Gala at Reignwood Theatre for the Chinese Valentine’s Day, and Ballet “Chopin en Pointe” touring for Chopin 200’s Anniversary. She performed with Andrea Bocelli, Lang Lang, Lv Siqing together for the unforgettable classical evening “BRAVO CHINA” in ltaly. She brought the famous Chinese writer Wang Shuo’s masterpiece “Half flame, Half Seawater” into ballet on stage, she made the frist “Ballet meets Piano” Concert at NCPA. She created the first ballet piece at the “2013 New Year’s Concert” with the top Israel Philharmonic and Zubin Mehta at the Great Hall of the People. Sisi Qiu had also published Maestro Zubin Mehta’s first autobiography “The Score of My Life” into Chinese Version. She made a Microfilm for a love story of Coco Chanel and Igor Stravinsky at “The Rite of Spring 100 years Anniversary”. And she is the first Crossover dancer who hold an installation artwork exhibition at the TREE MUSEUM.
Sisi Qiu, “An Oriental Swan Princess who dancing with her flexible and expressive force body like the violin string” was highly acclaimed by the press media.

Cello：LI-WEI QIN
’Mr. Qin has a great deal going for him, including a meltingly beautiful tone, flawless centered intonation and an ironclad technique’ - New York Times.
An exclusive Universal Music China Artist, Li-Wei Qin has appeared all over the world as a soloist and as a chamber musician. After achieving great success at the 11th Tchaikovsky International Competition where he was awarded the Silver Medal, Li-Wei has since won the First Prize in the prestigious 2001 Naumburg Competition in New York. “A superbly stylish, raptly intuitive performer” (Gramophone Magazine, January 2015) was the description of the cellist’s Elgar and Walton concerti recording with the London Philharmonic.
During the 15/16 season, Li-Wei will make his debut with the Finnish Radio Orchestra/Lintu, the Vienna Radio symphony Orchestra/Rabl, the Malaysian Philharmonic/Ashkenazy. He will also appear with the Melbourne Symphony/Sir Andrew Davis for their residency in Shanghai as well as China Philharmonic 2016 European tour. Other engagements including returns to the Queensland Symphony, Shanghai Symphony, NCPA Symphony and Auckland Philharmonic Orchestras. 
 

Two times soloist at the BBC Proms in London’s Royal Albert Hall, Li-Wei has enjoyed successful artistic collaborations with many of the world’s great orchestras including all the BBC symphony orchestras, the Los Angeles philharmonic, London Philharmonic, the Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin, the NDR-Sinfonierorchester Hamburg, the Konzerthausorchester Berlin, the Basel Symphony, the Prague symphony, the Osaka Philharmonic, Hong Kong Philharmonic, China Philharmonic, the Sydney Symphony and Melbourne Symphony among many others. Leading conductors with whom he has worked include Marek Janowski, Jaap Van Zweden, Jiri Belohlavek, Jan Pascal Totelier, Hans Graf, Yu Long, the late Machello Viotti and the late Lord Menuhin. Li-Wei has also appeared with chamber orchestras such as the Kremerata Baltika, Sinfonia Vasovia, the Munich, the Zurich, and the Australian Chamber Orchestras.
In recital and chamber music, Li-Wei is a regular guest at the Wigmore Hall and for the Lincoln Center Chamber Music Society, New York. He has appeared at the BBC Proms, the Rheinghau, the City of London, the Schlewigs-Holstein and the Mecklenburg Festivals. Li-Wei has collaborated with musicians such as Daniel Hope, Nabuko Imai, Misha Maisky, David Finckel, Wu Han, Vladimir Mendelssohn and Peter Frankel, among many others.