Bo Li ’09MM to be principal viola of Atlanta Opera

Bo Li, who will graduate this year with a master of music degree in viola, has been appointed principal viola with the Atlanta Opera for the 2009-2010 season. Bo Li studied with the late Jesse Levine at the Yale School of Music after graduating from in 2007 from the Beijing Central Conservatory, where he studied with Wing Ho ’87MM, also a student of Levine.

"I would like to show my deep appreciation to Jesse," Li said. "I could only have received this appointment at Atlanta Opera because of him. He not only taught me how to play music, but also to let me understand how to treat other people and how to live as a man: a great mentor! I have also been taught by Wing Ho for many years, who was Jesse's former student, and I have learned so much from him also."

BIOGRAPHY

Bo Li,  a 23-year-old Chinese violist, is currently completing his Master’s degree at the Yale School of Music, where he studied with Jesse Levine and Toby Appel. He began studying music at the age of five. He made his first appearance on a local TV show at the age of six, for which he received great acclaim in his hometown Daqing. In 2007, Mr. Li graduated with a Bachelor of Music degree from the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing, where he studied with Wing Ho.

Li is a frequent soloist with the EOS Orchestra under the baton of Yongyan Hu.  As a recitalist, he has made numerous appearances as a soloist in China, the US, Europe, Japan, Korea, and Canada.  At eighteen he toured throughout China, performing the complete Bach unaccompanied cello suites.  In 2005, he was invited twice by Tung Chee Hwa, the first elected Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China, to give a private solo recital.

Also an active orchestral and chamber musician, Li has appeared as the principal violist with orchestras under the baton of Valery Gergiev, Seiji Ozawa, David Zinman and Peter Oundjian. He has participated in festivals including the Aspen Music Festival, the PMF Festival (Japan), the Great Mountain Music Festival (Korea), and the Beethoven Music Festival (Germany). He has earned several awards, including the Mr. Ng Fung Chow Memorial Scholarship, the Tertis International Viola Competition (UK), and the China National Viola Competition. He is also the winner of the GMMFS Concerto Competition in 2007, which resulted in a performance with the GMMFS Festival Orchestra and Maestro Shinik Hahm.