Biography
Zhenwei Shi was appointed principal violist of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra in 2019 at the age of twenty-three.
He received first prize in the 2010 International String Players Competition in Hong Kong and third prize in the 2014 Johansen International Young String Players Competition in the U.S.A. He was also awarded the Special Jury Prize from the 2016 XII Lionel Tertis Viola International Competition and the Regent’s Award from the Duchess of Gloucester of British Royalty and Royal Academy of Music.
As a Drake Calleja Trust and ABRSM scholar in the U.K. since 2016, Mr. Shi has performed as a solo violist and chamber musician at prestigious venues such as Buckingham Palace, Wigmore Hall, Royal Festival Hall, Shanghai Concert Hall, and on the BBC’s In Tune broadcast.
Since 2018, he has been a frequent guest player with the San Francisco Symphony and Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Mr. Shi has performed with the Georgian Chamber Players since 2019. He was invited to be an artist-faculty member at the Aspen Music Festival and School in 2020.
Q & A
What year did you join the ASO?
2019
Why did you choose your instrument?
The beauty of the warm, dark sound and inherent sadness character.
What's the most interesting or difficult facet of your instrument?
Lots of viola jokes…
What do you do in your free time outside of work?
Read books and hang out with some friends
What other instrument do you wish you played?
Classical guitar
Favorite time of year to get outside?
Early summer
Most interesting or unusual place you've played a concert?
Buckingham palace!