Cheng Yi

Yi Cheng studied under clarinet professor Dong Dejun and won a major award at the 1998 Beijing International Clarinet Festival. In 2001, he was the only candidate admitted to the Berlin University of the Arts in Germany for further studies, where he trained under Professor Diethelm Kühn, principal clarinetist of the German Radio Symphony Orchestra, and world-renowned clarinetist Karl Leister. He later studied under Wenzel Fuchs, principal clarinetist of the Berlin Philharmonic, and Ralf Forster, principal clarinetist of the Berlin Symphony Orchestra (BSO), focusing on orchestral clarinet performance. In 2004, Yi Cheng received the “Hanns Eisler” full scholarship and represented the Berlin University of the Arts at the International Music Festival Masterclass in Obersdorf, southern Germany, studying under Professor Norbert Kaiser of the Stuttgart University of Music and performing at the festival. Professor Kaiser praised Yi Cheng’s performance, stating, “I clearly recognize that Yi Cheng is not only an outstanding clarinetist with a serious and dedicated attitude but also, remarkably, possesses a sensitive musical intuition. He is an exceptionally gifted musician, particularly with his warm, passionate tone, which seems to express his very personality…”

From 2003, Yi Cheng was appointed principal clarinetist of the RIAS Radio Philharmonic Orchestra in Berlin, performing with the orchestra in countries such as Italy, Poland, Austria, and Russia. In August 2005, he was invited to perform a solo recital at the Xi’an International Clarinet Festival, earning praise from European and American musicians. In October 2005, as a soloist, he collaborated with Professor Thomas Clamor, principal trumpeter of the Berlin Philharmonic, conducting the Berlin Wind Symphony Orchestra in performances of works such as Ravid’s Clarinet, Violin, and Piano Concerto. That same year, he was invited by the Berlin Youth Symphony Orchestra to perform as guest principal clarinetist under the baton of world-renowned conductor and former Artistic Director of the Berlin Philharmonic, Simon Rattle, in a concert broadcast live by the German National Radio and Television (RBB).

From 2008 to 2023, Yi Cheng served as principal clarinetist of the Shenzhen Symphony Orchestra, playing a key role in fostering collaboration within the wind section. During his tenure, he performed a vast repertoire of Chinese and international works from various periods, genres, and styles, collaborating successfully with numerous renowned conductors, instrumentalists, and vocalists, and contributing significantly to the orchestra’s diverse musical development. As a soloist, he performed several notable clarinet works with the Shenzhen Symphony Orchestra, achieving great success. Beyond performing, he has been actively involved in music education and promotion in China, serving as Artistic Director for the Shenzhen International Clarinet Art Week, which received widespread acclaim in the industry. In March 2022, he was invited by the Tianjin Juilliard School to conduct a clarinet masterclass. As a Buffet Crampon artist, he held a clarinet masterclass at the Qingdao International Clarinet Festival in August 2022. He also served as a judge for the 2021 and 2023 Buffet Cup China Youth Clarinet Competitions and as Artistic Director for the 2023 Shenzhen Bay Youth Wind Music Festival.