Bonian Tian
Principal Cellist of Gürzenich Orchestra Cologne Philharmonic; Hochschule für Musik in Frankfurt am Main, Stella Vorarlberg Hochschule für Musik; Kronberg Academy
MMB Alumnus
Born in China, Bonian received his first cello lessons from Professor Wang Jifu and Na Mula. Later, he studied in Germany with David Geringas and Frans Helmerson.
He has been the principal cellist of the Gürzenich Orchestra Cologne since January 2010. Since 2011 Bonian has been teaching a cello class at the Frankfurt University of Music and Performing Arts, for which he was awarded the title of honorary professor in 2020. He has been a visiting professor at the Central Conservatory of Music Beijing since 2015. In 2018 Bonian was made the assistant of Frans Helmerson at the Kronberg Academy. Since 2023 Bonian has been a Cello Professor at the Stella Vorarlberg Hochschule für Musik in Austria.
Bonian won numerous first prizes at international competitions such as the International Tchaikovsky Competition for Young Musicians, International Davidov Cello Competition, International George Enescu Competition, International Antonio Janigro Cello Competition and the International Cello Competition André Navarra.
Bonian regularly plays at the Schleswig-Holstein Festival and the Rheingau Festival. As a soloist he has performed with China Philharmonic, Gürzenich Orchestra Cologne, Kremerata Baltica, Toulouse Symphony Orchestra, Zagreb Philharmonic, Latvian National Orchestra, Shanghai Symphony Orchestra, Hangzhou Philharmonic, China NCPA Orchestra, Beijing Symphony Orchestra, Taiwan National Symphony Orchestra, Amadeus Orchestra Salzburg. He has given cello recitals at Berliner Philharmonie, Musikverein in Vienna, Cologne Philharmonic Hall, Lincoln Center New York City, Copenhagen Tivoli Concert Hall, at Seoul Center for Culture and Music and during a private audience with Queen Margrethe of Denmark.
Bonian has worked with Christoph Eschenbach, Christoph von Dohnanyi, Daniel Barenboim, Michael Sanderling, François-Xavier Roth, Markus Stenz, Sir Neville Marriner, Gidon Kremer, Yuri Bashmet, András Schiff, Steven Isserlis and also with composers such as Unsuk Chin, Philippe Manoury, Xiaogang Ye, Peter Eötvös.
Bonian regularly gives masterclasses in China, Germany, the USA, Switzerland and Italy.