First Violins
Gu Chen (Concertmaster)
Violin major Gu Chen was admitted to the Australian Institute of Music in 1996 and has garnered several important prizes in China, Poland, Russia and Australia. While concertmaster of the Sydney Symphony, he was invited by the Macao Orchestra to perform as a guest concertmaster at the 20th and 21st Macao International Music Festival in 2004 and 2005. At the invitation of the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra, he was a guest concertmaster touring China in 2006. He has served as concertmaster of the Macao Orchestra since 2007.
Melody Wang (Associate Concertmaster)
Melody Wang moved to Australia when she was a teenager where she was granted the Australian Citizenship under the distinguished talent category. Melody appeared as a soloist with major orchestras in Australia, China and America. Since the age of 17, she has awarded numerous awards nationally and internationally.
Since 2009, Melody has been appointed the associate concertmaster in the Macao Orchestra.
Hou Zezhou(Section principal)
Violin major Hou Zezhou graduated from the Orchestral Instruments Department of the Central Conservatory of Music in 2001. Later, he served as a violinist with the China Philharmonic Orchestra, joining the Macao Orchestra as First Violin Principal in 2004.
Xing Huifang
Violin major Xing Huifang graduated from the Xu Beihong School of Arts at Renmin University of China in 2004, performing with both the China National Symphony Orchestra and the China National Opera House. She joined the Macao Orchestra as a violinist in 2005.
Wang Yue
Given his outstanding performance in the Affiliated Middle School to the Central Conservatory of Music, Wang Yue was exempted from an entrance examination and directly admitted to the Central Conservatory of Music in 2004, where he studied under Professor Lin Yaoji. Upon graduating from the Conservatory in 2008, he successfully enrolled in the Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation Orchestral Fellowship Scheme, playing with the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra from 2008 to 2010. In September 2010, he joined the Macao Orchestra as a violinist.
Yang Keyan
Violin major Yang Keyan studied at the Shandong Conservatory in 1997 before performing with the China Philharmonic Orchestra. Yang joined the Macao Orchestra as a violinist in 2005.
Chen Yanle
Violin major Chen Yanle was admitted to the Affiliated Primary School of the Shanghai Conservatory of Music at the age of nine and continued her studies at the same Affiliated High School. In 1999, she exceptionally graduated from the Department of Orchestral Instruments within three years, studying under Zheng Shisheng. In 2004, he received her Master’s Degree in violin and won numerous awards in open competition. That year, she joined the Macao Orchestra as a violinist.
Wang Hao
Violin major Wang Hao graduated from the Shanghai Conservatory of Music in 1999, winning his master’s degree in violin performance from New York’s Juilliard School in 2003. That year, Wang joined the New World Symphony and later performed as a soloist in collaboration with the several Orchestras. He joined the Macao Orchestra in 2007 as a violinist.
Guo Qing
Violin major Guo Qing graduated from the Central Conservatory of Music in 1990, and graduated from the Juilliard School in New York on a full scholarship in 1997. He performed as a violinist with the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra, New York City Opera and New York City Ballet before joining the Macao Orchestra’s violin section in 2009.
Zhou Chen
Violin major Zhou Chen graduated from the Orchestral Instruments Department of the Wuhan Conservatory of Music in 2002, and has performed with the Shanghai Radio Symphony Orchestra. Zhou joined the Macao Orchestra as a violinist in 2004.
Cao Hui (Female)
Cao Hui was born in Wuhan, china. She began learning the violin at the age of five and graduated from the Wuhan Conservatory of Music in 2006, where she received the Bachelor of Music Studies. At the age of seventeen, Cao Hui successfully held her first recital. In 2006, she worked with the Beijing Symphony Orchestra. She has been violinist with the Macao Orchestra since 2009.
Xu Yang
Violin major Xu Yang graduated from the Orchestral Instruments Department of the Wuhan Conservatory of Music and has won many open competition awards. He joined the Macao Orchestra as a violinist in 2003.
Second Violins
Shi Weimin(Acting Section principal)
Violin major Shi Weimin graduated from the Orchestral Instruments Department of the Central Conservatory of Music in 1990, and has won many awards in open competition. A violinist with the formerly named Macao Chamber Orchestra, he joined the Macao Orchestra as a violinist in 2003.
Guo Kang
In 1986, Guo Kang graduated from the Shanghai Conservatory of Music and studied under the celebrated violinist Yu Lih-Nar. He performed as the Concertmaster of the Shanghai Opera House and Qingdao Symphony Orchestra before joining the Macao Orchestra as the Second Violin Principal in September 2010.
Vit Polasek
Vit Polasek was born in Uherske Hradiste in the Czech Republic. He graduated in violin from the P.J. Vejvanovsky Conservatory in Kroměříž, Czech Republic, received his master degree from the Janáček Academy of Music and Performing Arts in Brno, Czech Republic and furthered his studies at the Hofschule für Musik Franz Liszt in Weimar, Germany. Since 2003 he is a violinist of Macao Orchestra.
Liang Mu
Violin major Liang Mu graduated from the Central Conservatory of Music in 2006, receiving professional excellence awards on many occasions and was granted a full scholarship to study in the United States, joining the Macao Orchestra as a violinist in 2007.
Wang Xiaoying
Violin major Wang Xiaoying graduated from the Orchestral Instruments Department of the Central Conservatory of Music in 2004 and performed with the China National Symphony Orchestra, China National Opera House and China Youth Symphony Orchestra before joining the Macao Orchestra as a violinist in 2005.
Luo Ya
Violin major Luo Ya graduated from the Central Conservatory of Music in 1998, later furthered her studies at the University of Southern California in the USA. Luo performed with the Santa Barbara Symphony Orchestra in the United States, China Philharmonic Orchestra and China Radio Symphony Orchestra before joining the Macao Orchestra as a violinist in 2003.
Denis Kriger
Violin major Denis Kriger was admitted to the Rimsky-Korsakov St. Petersburg State Conservatory in 1994, where he majored in violin performance. He obtained his master’s degree from the Hochschule für Musik Franz Liszt Weimar, in Germany in 2000, and joined the Macao Orchestra as a violinist in 2003.
Zheng Liqin
Violin major Zheng Liqin graduated from the Orchestral Instruments Department of the Central Conservatory of Music in 1994, and has held several violin recitals. She joined the Macao Orchestra as a violinist in 2003.
Cao Hui (Male)
Violin major Cai Hui graduated from the Orchestral Instruments Department of the Shanghai Conservatory of Music in 2003, and joined the Macao Orchestra as a violinist in 2004.
Violas
Wu Xiaodi (Section principal)
Wu Xiaodi studied at the Affiliated Secondary School of Wuhan Conservatory of Music in 1984 and at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music in 1990. He joined the Shenzhen Symphony Orchestra in 1994. In 1998, he worked as principal violist of the Shenzhen Symphony Orchestra. In 2003, he joined the Macao Orchestra as principal violist, a post he holds to the present day.
Xiao Fan
Viola major Xiao Fan graduated from the Central Conservatory of Music in China, supervised by the renowned Prof. Sui Keqiang. Fan served as Principal Viola of the National Ballet of China before joining the China National Symphony Orchestra and then the Kentucky Symphony Orchestra in the United States. He joined the Macao Orchestra as a Viola Tutti in 2007.
Li Jun
Viola major Li Jun graduated from the Orchestral Instruments Department of the Shanghai Conservatory of Music in 1992, prior to receiving a master’s degree in viola performance from the Rotterdam Conservatory of Music, in The Netherlands. He now plays the viola with the Macao Orchestra, which he joined in 2003.
Cai Lei
Viola major Cai Lei was admitted to the Central Conservatory of Music in China in 1997, where he studied under Prof. Wang Changhai and placed first runner-up in the String Quartet Competition organised by the Central Conservatory of Music. Upon graduating in 2004, he joined the China Philharmonic Orchestra. In 2010, Cai joined the Macao Orchestra as a violist.
Jiří Pelka
Viola major Jiří Pelka obtained the title of Master of Arts in the Prague Academy of Performing Arts in 2001. He has been a prizewinner in several competitions including the Concerto Bohemia Competition in 1995. He has been a violist in the Macao Orchestra from 2003 onwards.
Lu Xiao
Viola major Lu Xiao graduated from the Orchestral Instruments Department of the Shanghai Conservatory of Music in 2003, after which he joined the Macao Orchestra as a member of the viola section.
Su Jiajun
Viola major Su Jiajun graduated from the Orchestral Instruments Department of the Central Conservatory of Music of China in 1997. He later became a member of the symphony orchestra at the China National Opera House and a teacher at the Affiliated Secondary School of the Central Conservatory of Music. In 1996, he joined the Macao Chamber Orchestra as a violist, and performed with the Macao Orchestra in the viola section since 2003.
Cellos
Zhang Taiyan
Zhang Taiyan graduated from the Department of Music at Augsburg College and the College of Music Nuremberg, receiving a Master’s Degree in Music and a Master Class diploma for Advanced Performers in 2006 and 2008, respectively.
From 2007 to 2010, he worked for the renowned Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra as the first Chinese musician of the Orchestra. He was an award winner in the Hummel Cello Competition in Germany and a successful candidate in the world renowned InternationalPablo Casals Cello Competition. He joined the Macao Orchestra as a cellist since 2010.
Radim Navrátil
Radim Navrátil was born in the Czech Republic. He was educated in Prague Conservatory and later at the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague. Upon completing his Bachelor’s Degree, he continued to study in the same institute, from which he received a Master of Arts. He has performed with several ensembles. In 2003, he joined Macao Orchestra as a cellist.
Zhong Guoyu
Cello major Zhong Guoyu received his bachelor’s degree from the Central Conservatory of Music in China and his master’s degree from Indiana University in the United States. He was an associate principal cellist at the South Bend Symphony Orchestra in the USA, after which he worked in the Beijing Symphony Orchestra, China National Symphony Orchestra and China Philharmonic Orchestra. He joined the Macao Orchestra as a cellist in 2010.
Kuong Pou Lei
Cello major Kuong Pou Lei received a diploma in cello performance at the Royal College of Music in England and has won several awards in the Macao Youth Music Competitions. She joined the former Macao Chamber Orchestra as a cellist and joined the Macao Orchestra as a cellist in 2003.
Lu Yan
Cello major Lu Yan studied in Russia, the Ukraine and Germany. During her studies in the Ukraine, she joined the Ukranian International Cello Competition, winning fourth prize and receiving the Award for Best Performance of Ukrainian pieces. She joined the Macao Orchestra as a cellist in 2002.
Double Basses
Xü Li (Acting Section principal)
Double bass major Xu Li received his bachelor’s degree in Music from the Eastman School of Music in 2002, and is now a postgraduate student at the Lausanne Conservatory of Switzerland. From 2003 to 2007, Xu performed with the Singapore Symphony Orchestra and has taught in several colleges and universities, joining the Macao Orchestra as a double bassist in 2008.
Xu Hongbo
Double bass major Xu Hongbo graduated from the Central Conservatory of Music in 1993 and has won numerous awards in open competitions. In 2003, he became a double bassist with the Macao Orchestra, having previously joined the Macao Chamber Orchestra in that position.
Yu Wenting
Double bassist Yu Wenting obtained a bachelor’s and then a master’s degree from Shanghai Conservatory of Music. In 2009, she received a scholarship from Deutsche Bank to complete a second master’s degree at the Hamburg School of Music, in Germany, during which she also served as an intern in the Hamburg Symphony Orchestra. She studied double bass under Chao Hui, Associate Professor of Shanghai Conservatory of Music, and Michael Rieber, Principal Double Bassist of the NDR Symphony Orchestra. In 2012, Yu joined the Macao Orchestra as a double bassist.
Shao Shi
Double bassist Shao Shi began to learn double bass from his father when he was 12 years old. In 2006, he was admitted to the Central Conservatory of Music, studying under Professor Chen Ziping. He later joined the China Philharmonic Orchestra and was Principal of the Central Conservatory of Music’s China Youth Symphony Orchestra. In 2008, he won first prize in the Central Conservatory’s 2nd Zhong Yin Cup Double Bass Competition.
In 2012, Shao won the contrabass competition ‘Sound of Strings 2012’ (‘Saitenklang’) held at the Kurtheater in Freudenstadt, Germany, and was 1st runner-up in the international double bass competition Kontrabass-Kaleidoscop in Michaelstein, Germany. In the same year, he joined the Macao Orchestra as a double bassist.
Qu Siyuan
Born in a musical family, Qu Siyuan studied the piano and the double bass. After training at the affiliated middle school of the Shanghai Conservatory of Music, she studied double bass with Eddie Zong XiaoQian at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts with a full scholarship and received her Bachelor Degree of Music with First Class Honours.
Qu Siyuan has a rich performing experience, having taken part in the Canton International Summer Music Academy and in the Aspen Music Festival and School, with full sponsorship. In 2012, Qu joined the Macao Orchestra as a double bassist.
Ma Sai
Born in Tianjin, China, double bassist Ma Sai graduated from the Affiliated Middle School of the Tianjin Conservatory of Music in 2005. In 2006, he entered Nam Yang Academy of Fine Arts in Singapore, studying under Prof. Xu Li. In the years 2007-2010, he travelled to Brno, Czech Republic to study at Janacek Academy of Music and Performing Arts under Miloslav Jelinek. During this period, he won 4th place in the 4th Franz Simandl International Double Bass Competition, in Blatna. After working for the Guiyang Symphony Orchestra from 2010-2011, he joined the Macao Orchestra in 2012.
Flutes
Weng Sibei (Section principal)
Flute major Weng Sibei graduated from the Berlin University of the Arts and the Munich University of Music and Performing Arts, taking the master class’s ‘highest diploma level’. From 2005 to 2007, she worked with the Berlin Philharmonic. She participated in the International Flute Competition in Budapest and the International Music Competition of the ARD Munich, and became Principal Flute of the Macao Orchestra in 2010.
Second Flute and Piccolo
Oboes
Jennifer Shark
Born in the United States, Jennifer Shark received her Bachelor of Music from the University of New Mexico in 2007. During her undergrad in 2006, she spent a semester in Granada, Spain studying Spanish and oboe at the Universidad de Granada. In 2009, she completed her Master of Music from Yale University and immediately became Second Oboe and English Horn in the Santa Fe Symphony in New Mexico. In 2010, Shark joined the New Mexico Symphony Orchestra as Second Oboe and, in 2011, became Second Oboe and English Horn of the Macau Orchestra.
Clarinets
Michael Geoffrey Kirby (Section Principal)
Michael, born in Hereford (UK) and started his Clarinet studies when he was 9. He was a student of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama (London UK) and continued his studies with Mr. Jack Brymer O.B.E. and obtained his AGSM qualification. Michael has served as the Principal Clarinet of the Ernest Reed Symphony Orchestra, a member of the European Community Youth Orchestra and also won various competitions including the Bromsgrove Young Musician´s Platform (UK). Since 1986/7, Michael was the Principal Clarinet of the Tenerife Symphony Orchestra (TSO) and also Professor of Clarinet in the Conservatorio de Música of Tenerife. Recently, he is joining the Macao Orchestra as the Principal Clarinet.
Schyler Fung
Clarinetist Schyler Fung holds a Master of Music Degree from the Juilliard School and a Bachelor of Music degree from the Manhattan School of Music, where he studied with Charles Neidich and Ayako Oshima. Schyler has served as principal clarinet of the Juilliard Orchestra, Juilliard Opera Orchestra, MSM Symphony, Philharmonia, and Chamber Sinfonia. He recently joined the Macao Orchestra as Second Clarinet and Bass Clarinet and Eb Clarinet player.
Kai-Wei Chuang
Kai-Wei Chuang, native of Taiwan. He began playing clarinet at age 15 and holds Bachelor’s degree from the Soochow University; Master’s degree from Michigan State University; Professional Studies Diploma from the Cleveland Institute of Music. He has studied with Wei-Leng Chen, Elsa Verdehr, Franklin Cohen, Alexander Fiterstein. Mr. Chuang won the first price of Hsin-Tein Temple Music Competition; Michigan State University Concerto Competition, he also got invited from Beijing International Clarinet Competition and Concours Debussy Paris International Clarinet Competition. Mr. Chuang has played with Macao Orchestra, The Cleveland Orchestra, National Symphony Orchestra(Taiwan), Canton Symphony Orchestra etc.. He recently joined the Macao Orchestra as Second Clarinet and Bass Clarinet and Eb Clarinet player.
Bassoons
Yun Tsangshien(Section principal)
Bassoon major Yun Tsangshien graduated from the National Conservatory of Music in Rome and studied under maestro Sergio Azzolini in Switzerland. Having served as Principal Bassoon of the Rome Symphony Orchestra, Yun collaborated with many renowned orchestras in Europe and received numerous international awards before joining the Macao Orchestra as Principal Bassoon in 2010.
Leung Kwun-Yu
Kwun-Yu studied with Kam Shui at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts with a full scholarship granted by the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, and received his Bachelor of Music in 2003. After graduation, he studied under Prof. Henrik Rabien, Principal Bassoon of the WDR Symphony Orchestra of Cologne and Stephan Krings, Principal Contrabassoon of the WDR Symphony Orchestra, at the Hochschule für Musik und Darstellende Kunst (HfMDK) Frankfurt, Germany, with another full scholarship from the Hong Kong Jockey Club Music and Dance Fund. In 2006, he graduated from the HfMDK Frankfurt as “Diplom-Musiker” and returned to Hong Kong. Starting in 2012, Kwun-Yu will be playing as Second Bassoon and Contrabassoon at the Macao Orchestra.
Horns
Wu Tianxia (Section principal)
Horn major Wu TianXia received a bachelor and master degree in music from the Julliard School of Music in 2006 and 2008 respectively. He then got the Artist Diploma in the Yale University in 2010. Wu has worked with various orchestras including The Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra, New World Symphony Orchestra and Hangzhou Philharmonic Orchestra as the guest Horn Principal and guest Hornist.
Scott Holben
Horn major Scott Holben recently graduated from Yale University and the University of Colorado at Boulder. He has worked with a number of orchestras in the USA including the Colorado Symphony, the New Mexico Symphony, the Waterbury Symphony and the New York Brass Quintet. Mr. Holben began working with the Macau Orchestra in 2010.
Shamil Lutfrachmanov
Born in Uzbekistan in the USSR, Shamil Lutfrachmanov studied since age 11 in a Specialized Music High School. At age 17 he won 1st prize in a wind and brass competition. He moved to study at the Tashkent State Conservatory and at age 21 won 3rd prize at the "National Soviet Wind and Brass" Competition. He went on to be Co-Principal Horn at the Bolshoi Theater (Moscow, 1983-1992), Principal Horn in the National Symphony Orchestra, (South Africa, 1992-1999), Principal Horn of JPO (RSA 1999-2003), and a hornist of the Macao Orchestra (2003-present day).
Etienne Godey
Born in France, Etienne Godey received double first-prizes at the Paris National Superior Conservatory (CNSM), in chamber music (1993) and in French horn (1994). He then received a master degree at the CNSM in chamber music (1996). Freelance musician since 1994, he has performed, as a guest Horn Principal or guest Hornist, with the French National Orchestra, the Suisse Romande Orchestra, the Emsemble Moderne etc.. He was Horn Principal of the Orchestre Poitou-Charentes (2001-2004) and of the Shanghai Philharmonic Orchestra (2004-2005).
In 2012, he is working as a hornist of the Macao Orchestra.
Trumpets
David Rouault(Section principal)
Born in France, David Rouault received numerous trumpet prizes in different conservatories. He received first prize in trumpet and chamber music at the Paris Superior Conservatory (CNSM). David was also awarded in the Toulon International Trumpet Competition in 2000. He recorded a CD entitled “Trumpet and Organ” which was well acclaimed. He also taught in two renowned conservatories and gave regular master-classes and recitals. He joined the Macao Orchestra in 2003.
Rosie Turner
Born in Australia, Rosie Turner gained her Bachelor of Music from the University of Sydney in 2006. In 2011 she completed her Artist’s Diploma at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia where she studied with David Bilger, principal trumpet of the Philadelphia Orchestra. She has worked with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, the West Australian Symphony Orchestra, the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra, the Australian Opera and Ballet Orchestra, and the Hong Kong Philharmonic. Ms Turner joined the Macau Orchestra as second trumpet in September 2011.
Trombone
Christian Goldsmith(Section principal)
Christian Goldsmith graduated in Trombone Performance from the University of Southern California. Since 2007, he has been principal trombone of the Macao Orchestra.
Simon-Olivier Tétreault
Born in Joliette, Canada, Simon-Olivier Tétreault studied trombone at the Geneva Conservatory (Switzerland), followed by the Conservatoire de Montréal and Musique du Québec where, in 2009, he received the First Prize in Trombone with great distinction (Magna cum laude). He has won several music competitions and worked with many symphony orchestras and chamber ensembles around Europe and North America. In 2010, Simon was appointed Principal Trombone of the Monterrey Symphony Orchestra and, in 2011, joined the Macau Orchestra as Second Trombone.
Bass Trombone
Timpani
Scott Weatherson (Section principal)
Percussion major Scott Weatherson graduated with a bachelor’s degree in musical performance from the Victorian College of Arts in 1998. He pursued further studies in the Conservatorium van Amsterdam in The Netherlands in 2002, from which he received his master’s degree two years later. After serving as a percussionist at the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra and the Amsterdam Symphony Orchestra, he assumed the post of Principal Timpani with the Geminiani Chamber Orchestra. He has been Principal Timpani of the Macao Orchestra since 2005.
Percussion
Siu, Chun Kit Louis
Born in Hong Kong, Louis Siu received grant from Asian Cultural Council. He studied at Sydney Conservatorium of Music, Chinese University of Hong Kong and San Francisco Conservatory of Music, major teachers included San Francisco Symphony principal percussionist Jack Van Geem, principal timpanist David Herbert and Hong Kong Philharmonic principal timpanist James Boznos. Siu participated International Timpani Competition in Lyon* and Australian Percussion Eisteddfod. He was guest musician of Hong Kong Philharmonic and Hong Kong Sinfonietta, teaching artist for San Francisco Symphony. Since 2010, Siu joined the Macao Orchestra as percussionist.