Chamber Music
Major Trio
Biography
Comprising three distinguished Chinese musicians—violinist Lu Siqing, cellist Li-Wei Qin, and pianist Sun Yingdi—Major Trio is an ensemble that thrives on a shared passion for chamber music and a collective vision to elevate its prominence. These esteemed artists have come together to form one of the most prestigious and influential chamber groups in the Chinese classical music scene. Since their formation, Major Trio has graced numerous stages with performances that are lauded for their artistic integrity, exceptional musical standards, harmonious and rich tonal qualities, and an enchanting stage presence. They bring the sophisticated and elegant piano trio repertoire, a quintessential form of chamber music, to a broader and appreciative audience.
The name “Major Trio” draws inspiration from various sources. It pays tribute to the legendary Beaux Arts Trio, which was founded in the 1950s and captivated global audiences for over 40 years with more than 4,000 performances. Major Trio aims to emulate such enduring success and distinction. Additionally, the name “Major” not only serves as a familiar musical term but also conveys significance and prominence, reflecting the trio’s aspiration to become a vital force in the music world. Lu Siqing, Li-Wei Qin, and Sun Yingdi, born in the 60s, 70s, and 80s respectively, represent the pinnacle of Chinese musicianship in their respective fields. They have achieved widespread acclaim both domestically and internationally, becoming leading figures of their generations in Chinese music. Their striking presence and profound inner artistry allow them to showcase the beauty of music through their exceptional talents to a wide audience.
“In a trio, it is imperative to maintain exceptional soloist skills while also pursuing a deep understanding, harmony, and seamless collaboration. This collective musical pursuit embodies our shared aspirations and ultimately delivers a transcendent experience to our audience.”
Reflects the unified ethos and dedicated ambition of each member of Major Trio
Siqing Lu
Siqing Lu is one of the foremost and influential Chinese violinists today, and he is the President of the Yehudi Menuhin School Qingdao. As the first Asian violinist to win the esteemed International Paganini Violin Competition, Mr. Lu performs regularly worldwide with major orchestras and leading conductors, and regularly gives recitals and appears with the Major Trio which he founded in 2011 on the world’s great concert stages and at the most prestigious festivals.
Mr. Lu is the Artistic Director of the National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA) May Festival in Beijing, and the founder/Artistic Director of the Siqing Lu Shenzhen Futian International String Festival. Mr. Lu also serves regularly on the jury of international competitions such as the Yehudi Menuhin International Violin Competition and the Shanghai Isaac Stern International Violin Competition.
Appearances regularly with orchestra such as the Philharmonia Orchestra, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Salzburg Chamber Orchestra, San Francisco Symphony, Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, Vancouver Symphony, Yomiuri Nippon Symphony, Hong Kong Philharmonic, the NCPA Orchestra and China Philharmonic Orchestra. Mr. Lu has received numerous honors for his outstanding artistic achievements and social contributions, including New Jersey’s Outstanding Achievement in Arts Award for Asian, California Senate Honorary Certificate, the Montblanc Outstanding Artist Award. The City of Millbrae, California passed a legislation to have September 16th of 2006 proclaimed “Siqing Lu Day” in honor of him.
Mr. Lu performs on the Italian luthier G.B. Guadagnini, Turin, 1777 violin, generously provided by arts patron Mr. David Li AM, Chairman of Melbourne Symphony Orchestra.
Li-Wei Qin
Li-Wei Qin has appeared all over the world as a soloist and chamber musician. Twice a 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 LA, London, and Hongkong, Osaka, China and NDR Hamburg Philharmonic Orchestras, Berlin Radio Symphony and Konzerthaus Orchestra, La Verdi Orchestra Milan, ORF Vienna Radio Orchestra , Prague Symphony, Sydney Symphony and Melbourne Symphony. Leading conductors with whom he has worked include Vladimir Ashkenazy, Sir Andrew Davis, Marek Janowski, Jaap Van Zweden, Gianandrea Noseda, Jan Pascal Tortelier, Hans Graf, Yu Long, Tan Dun, the late Marcello Viotti, the late Jiri Belohlavek and the late Lord Menuhin. Li-Wei has also appeared with chamber orchestras such as the Kremerata Baltika, Sinfonia Vasovia, the Munich, Manchester, Zurich and the Australian Chamber Orchestras.
He has also appeared at the Wigmore Hall, the Jerusalem and Rheingau and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern Music Festivals, and at the Lincoln Centre Chamber Music Society New York, with Daniel Hope, Nabuko Imai, Mischa Maisky, David Finckel, Wu Han and Peter Frankel among many others.
Li-Wei’s recordings on Universal Music/Decca include the complete Beethoven Sonatas, Rachmaninov with Albert Tiu, Dvořàk Concerto with Singapore Symphony Orchestra, and Elgar and Walton Concerti with the London Philharmonic Orchestra. Li-Wei’s 2013 live concert with the Shanghai Symphony and with maestro Yu Long has been released on Sony Classical.
Prior to teaching at the YST Conservatory, Li-Wei was a professor at the Royal Northern College of Music Manchester. He is a guest professor at Shanghai and Central Conservatory of Music, China.
Li-Wei plays a 1780 Joseph Guadagnini cello, generously loaned by Dr and Mrs Wilson Goh.
Yingdi Sun
Sun Yingdi won the First Prize in the 7th International Franz Liszt Piano Competition held in Utrecht, the Netherlands in April 2005, becoming the first Chinese pianist to win this prestigious competition. Yingdi’s outstanding interpretation of Liszt has been praised by major media reports as “Liszt in primary colors.”
In recent years, Yingdi has been an active pianist both in China and worldwide. He has frequented to those great venues, including Amsterdam Royal Concertgebouw, London Barbican Centre, Wigmore Hall in London, Suntory Hall in Tokyo, Konzerthaus in Berlin, Tonhalle in Zurich, and Musikverein in Vienna.
Yingdi Sun has performed with many renowned orchestras, including Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France, Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra, Czech National Symphony Orchestra, Netherlands Radio Symphony Orchestra, Radio-Sinfonieorchester Stuttgart des SWR, North Netherlands Symphony Orchestra, Zurich Chamber Orchestra, Mariinsky Orchestra, Prague Symphony Orchestra, Slovenia Philharmonic, Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, among others. He has enjoyed collaborations with some of the world-famous conductors, including Valery Gergiev, Myung-Whun Chung, Michel Plasson,, Long Yu, Lü Jia, Guoyong Zhang, and Xu Zong, Xincao Li,Tan Dun among others.
Sun Yingdi has always been an avid chamber musician. He has toured in Europe and North America with German violinist Augustin Hadelich. At the end of 2011, Yingdi joined with violinist Lu Siqing and cellist Qin Li-Wei to formed the Major Trio. The trio has become the most demanded chamber group and giving performances throughout China.
Yingdi now is the Vice Dean, the Vice Professor and the MA Supervisor of Piano Department, Shanghai Conservatory of Music. Besides, he was on the jury of CCTV Piano Violin Competition, International Anton Rubinstein Competition and International Franz Liszt Piano Competition.
