Teng Li is the new principal viola of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, succeeding Charles Pikler who occupied the post from 1986 to 2017. Between Pikler's departure and Li's appointment, assistant principal viola Li-Kuo Chang served as acting principal viola until his own retirement in 2023. Li will begin her tenure on September 15.
Li has made several appearances with the CSO since winning the international audition for principal viola in May 2023. Performing as the orchestra's guest principal viola, she was offered the Paul Hindemith Viola Chair in September 2023 by Riccardo Muti, the CSO's Music Director Emeritus for Life. The chair was named after the 20th century composer and violist, who has both conducted and played with the CSO. The post was named in 2015, and bestowed by an anonymous benefactor.
Li is currently the principal viola of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, and before that, of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. She has also performed with the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, the National Chamber Orchestra, the Munich Chamber Orchestra, and the Shanghai Opera Symphony Orchestra.
She is a founding member of the Rosamunde Quartet, and for a time performed with the Trio Arkel.
Li has won top prizes at the Primrose International Viola Competition, the Irving M. Klein International String Competition and the Johanson International Competition for Young String Players, among others. Her solo album, 1939, recorded with violinist Benjamin Bowman and pianist Meng-Chieh Liu, has received much praise.
Originally from Nanjing, China, Li the studied at Central Conservatory in Beijing and the Curtis Institute of Music. Besides performing with the Rosamunde Quartet, she is also currently the Artistic Director of the scholarship program, Morningside Music Bridge. She is set to join the faculty of Roosevelt University's Chicago College of Performing Arts.
