Sihao He
Tianjin Juilliard School; Shanghai Quartet
MMB Alumnus
Praised by renowned cellist Lynn Harrell as a cellist with “an inspiring vision, originality of musical thought and a wonderful command of the cello.”
Cellist Sihao He first came into international prominence in 2008 at age 14, when he won First Prize at the International Antonio Janigro Cello Competition in Croatia. Later that same year, he claimed the top award at the National Cello Competition of China. He is also the Grand Prize winner of the prestigious 3rd Gaspar Cassadó International Cello Competition in Japan, a laureate of the Queen Elisabeth International Cello Competition and the Tchaikovsky Competition for Young Musicians. In 2019, he was awarded Third Prize at the ARD International Music Competition in Munich.
He has performed extensively worldwide, both as a concerto soloist with leading orchestras and in recitals. Following his Grand Prize victory at the 3rd Gaspar Cassadó Competition, he embarked on a recital tour across Japan and China. As a soloist, He has collaborated with many distinguished ensembles 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 (Brazil), and Xiamen Philharmonic Orchestra (China).
An active chamber musician, he has been featured at Music@Menlo, Bravo! Vail, the Meadowmount School of Music and the Norfolk Chamber Music Festival. As a member of the Galvin Cello Quartet, he won the 2022 Victor Elmaleh Competition and was selected for the Concert Artists Guild roster. Prior to moving to the United States, his quartet Simply Quartet took First Prize at the Haydn Invitational Chamber Music Competition in Shanghai and was named “The Most Promising Young String Quartet” at the 4th Beijing International Chamber Music Competition. In March 2020, He was admitted to the prestigious Bowers Program (formerly CMS Two) of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center.
Born in Shanghai, China, Sihao He earned his bachelor’s degree from the Robert McDuffie Center for Strings at Mercer University, where he studied with Hans Jørgen Jensen and Julie Albers. He received his master’s degree from the Bienen School of Music at Northwestern University, and completed his Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) under Hans Jørgen Jensen. He previously served on the faculty of the Robert McDuffie Center for Strings at Mercer University. He is the newest member of the celebrated Shanghai Quartet and currently a full-time faculty member at The Tianjin Juilliard School.
