Su Zhen

In addition, she is a renowned instructor at the China Conservatory of Music in Beijing, and a much sought-after consultant for the Asian Youth Orchestra and the Syndicate of Beijing Musicians’ Association. She is highly honoured to be a representative of the Tenth Chinese National Women’s Congress.

Su was admitted to the orchestral music department of CCOM, where she studied with Professor Wang Zhenshan. After graduation, due to her outstanding achievements, she was appointed as Assistant Principal viola in the China National Symphony Orchestra when she was only twenty-three years old.

In 1996, Su won a full scholarship to study at the Royal Academy of Music in London, where she pursued postgraduate studies with the distinguished professor John White. She won the majority of the viola awards at the Academy, and was a prizewinner at the 1997 Lionel Tertis International Viola Competition.

From 2000—2004, Su held the post of assistant principal viola of the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra. As a solo violist and chamber musician she has given solo and ensemble concerts all over the world, including international festivals in Edinburgh and Geneva, the International Arts Festival in Tokyo and the International Viola Arts Festival in the UK.

In 2004, Su was invited to return to CCOM in Beijing to become the youngest full professor of viola. In 2006, Su was awarded the Huo Yingdong Outstanding Youth Teacher by the Ministry of Education of China. She has been invited to teach at many international masterclasses, including the Great Mountains International Music Festival in Korea, the Great Wall International Music Festival and at the Austria Academy of Music.

Su was a jury member at the Lionel Tertis International Viola Competition in 2010 and at the 2011 Beijing International Music Competition.