Violist

Born in 1997 and raised in Shenzhen, China, Yue Yu moved abroad at the age of 18 and has since lived in the UK, Austria, and Germany while travelling extensively. At 22, she recorded her debut album for Naxos and was named one of Classic FM’s Rising Stars in 2022. Yue has garnered prestigious accolades, including first prizes at the Salzburg Paul Hindemith Viola Concorso and the Stockport International Young Musicians Competition. She was also invited to perform live at the Lionel Tertis International Viola Competition and the Tokyo International Viola Competition. As a finalist in the 2017 Cecil Aronowitz International Viola Competition, she won the Bishop Instruments and Bows Prize, receiving a £5000 silver-mounted Guillaume viola bow for her exceptional performance of York Bowen’s Viola Sonata in C minor during the semi-final round.

During her undergraduate studies at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, where she was awarded a full scholarship, Yue received numerous accolades. In 2017, she was nominated for the Silver Medal from the Worshipful Company of Musicians in London, and in 2019, she received the Principal Prize for her outstanding contributions to the conservatoire.

Yue completed her master’s studies at the Universität Mozarteum Salzburg in Austria under the guidance of Prof. Thomas Riebl, followed by postgraduate studies with him, which she finalised in January 2024. She has been selected as an Akademistin with the Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin (RSB) and currently performs on a viola made by E. Ceruti in 1865, on loan from the Hepner Foundation.

Yue has participated in leading festivals such as the Ravinia Festival, IMS Prussia Cove Masterclasses and Open Chamber Music, the International Mendelssohn Festival, Schiermonnikoog Festival, Vivacissimo Festival, and the Stellenbosch, Wye Valley, and Ulverston International Chamber Music Festivals. Chamber music is her greatest passion, and she has collaborated with renowned musicians including Steven Isserlis, Steven Doane, Clive Greensmith, Pavel Gililov, Thomas Riebl, Timothy Ridout, and ensembles such as the London Bridge Piano Trio, the Amatis Piano Trio, and the Primrose Piano Quartet.

As a scholar at the International Academy of Music in Liechtenstein and a member of Ensemble Esperanza, Yue also frequently performs as a guest with the Salzburg Camerata. She has played across more than 10 countries, appearing in prestigious venues such as Birmingham Town Hall, Wigmore Hall in London, Salzburg Solitär Saal, and the Vienna Konzerthaus.

Updated: Sep 2024