Sihao He to Become Cellist of the Shanghai Quartet and Resident Faculty at The Tianjin Juilliard School Beginning September 2024; Nicholas Tzavaras to Step Down at the End of the 2023-24 Season
February 13, 2023, TIANJIN, CHINA –– Tianjin Juilliard announced today that cellist Sihao He will be joining the Shanghai Quartet (SQ) in September 2024. He will succeed cellist Nicholas Tzavaras, who is stepping down at the end of the 2023-24 season, returning to North America to devote more time to his family. Sihao He will join other members of the Shanghai Quartet—violinist Weigang Li, violinist Angelo Xiang Yu, and violist Honggang Li—as a full-time faculty member at Tianjin Juilliard. Sihao He is an award-winning cellist who has appeared as soloist and chamber musician throughout the U.S., Europe, and Asia. As a soloist, He has performed with many leading orchestras including the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, Munich Radio Orchestra, Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra, Brussels Philharmonic, Münchener Kammerorchester, Orchestre Royal de Chambre de Wallonie, Orquestra Sinfônica de Piracicaba in Brazil, and the Xiamen Philharmonic Orchestra in China. He is a member of Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center’s Bowers Program. He currently serves as a faculty member at the Robert McDuffie Center for Strings at Mercer University and will stay on through April.
In announcing He’s appointment, Tianjin Juilliard Dean Katherine Chu said, “It is with excitement that we welcome cellist Sihao He to the faculty and our resident ensemble, the Shanghai Quartet. As musicians and educators, we constantly seek to refresh through new perspectives and discoveries. Sihao's appointment reflects this spirit of renewal as the baton of a great legacy is handed over to the next generation. We express our thanks to Nicholas Tzavaras for his invaluable contributions to the school. Nicholas began his tenure with us as cellist of the Shanghai Quartet, mentoring many students and inspiring us all with his music-making. As assistant dean of academic affairs, Nicholas implemented important curriculum initiatives and upheld academic standards, combining artistry with administrative aplomb and wisdom.”
The members of the quartet expressed their enthusiasm for their new colleague: “As we bid a grateful and fond farewell to Nicholas for his wonderful years in the quartet, we wish him our very best for his next chapter back in America, at the same time, we are very excited to welcome Sihao as our new colleague. Sihao is a sensitive musician who has a unique and profound sound, which touched us deeply. Our musical chemistry was instant from the very first moment. He is a consummate cellist with so much to offer and share with our quartet and we are thoroughly impressed by his exceptional skills as an educator as well. His well-punctuated and inspiring teaching style makes him a perfect fit for Tianjin Juilliard, aligning seamlessly with the identity of our quartet as both performers and educators."
Reflecting on his time with the quartet, Nicholas Tzavaras said, “I am honored to have considered the Shanghai Quartet my musical home for the past 24 years and feel privileged to have played a contributing role in its first four decades of performances. With Sihao joining the quartet, I am confident that his addition will be exceptional in every respect and eagerly anticipate hearing them in performance next fall. While bidding farewell to Tianjin Juilliard, I will undoubtedly miss its remarkable collaborative spirit, welcoming community, and the truly spectacular facility it provided. The profound impact of the past four years at Tianjin Juilliard on my career is undeniable, and I look forward to maintaining a close connection with their extraordinary faculty, staff, and students for many years to come.”
On joining the Shanghai Quartet, He remarked, “As a Shanghainese native, it is an honor to return home to join the prestigious Shanghai Quartet as the newest member and the faculty of Tianjin Juilliard. I have always admired the Shanghai Quartet for being a trailblazer in chamber music in China for over 40 years. Returning to my roots after nearly a decade of studying and performing in the United States, I have come full circle. I am looking forward to my role as both performer and teacher at Tianjin Juilliard, in nurturing and raising the next generation of young musicians.”
The Shanghai Quartet was appointed as the school’s resident quartet in 2020 and recently celebrated its 40th anniversary. A new CD from the Universal label will be released in April in celebration of Shanghai Quartet’s 40th anniversary. The album includes quartets by Barber, Dvorak, Penderecki, and Zhou Long. It was recorded at the Tianjin Juilliard Concert Hall. More information on their tour schedule can be found here.
About Sihao He
Cellist Sihao He first came into international prominence in 2008 as a 14-year-old cellist winning first prize at the International Antonio Janigro Cello Competition in Croatia. Later that same year, he won the National Cello Competition in China. He is also the Grand Prize winner of the prestigious 3rd Gaspar Cassadó International Cello Competition in Japan, a laureate of the Queen Elizabeth International Cello Competition International and Tchaikovsky Competition for Young Musicians. In 2019, he won 3rd prize in Munich’s ARD International Music Competition.
He has appeared in numerous concerts both as a soloist with leading orchestras and in recitals. After winning the Grand Prize at the 3rd Gaspar Cassado Competition, he performed a recital tour in Japan and China. As a soloist, He has performed with many leading orchestras including the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, Munich Radio Orchestra, Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra, Brussels Philharmonic, Münchener Kammerorchester, Orchestre Royal de Chambre de Wallonie, Orquestra Sinfônica de Piracicaba in Brazil, and the Xiamen Philharmonic Orchestra in China.
As a chamber musician, he has appeared at Music@Menlo, Bravo!Vail, Meadowmount School of Music and Rome Chamber Music Festival. As a member of the Galvin Cello Quartet, he won the 2022 Victor Elmaleh Competition and joined the Concert Artists Guild roster. Before coming to the US, his string quartet, Simply Quartet, won first prize at the Haydn Invitational Chamber Music Competition in Shanghai, China and was awarded “The Most Promising Young String Quartet” at the 4th Beijing International Chamber Music Competition. In March 2020, He was chosen to be a member of the prestigious Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center’s Bowers Program (formerly CMS Two).
Born in Shanghai, China, He holds a bachelor's degree from the Robert McDuffie Center for Strings at Mercer University where he studied with Hans Jørgen Jensen and Julie Albers, and holds a master's degree from the Bienen School of Music at Northwestern University. He is currently attending the Bienen School of Music at Northwestern University for his D.M.A. degree under the tutelage of Hans Jørgen Jensen. He serves as a faculty member at the Robert McDuffie Center for Strings at Mercer University.