Biography

Recognized for her refined musicianship and intellectually curious approach to music-making, Chinese cellist LiLa has rapidly established herself on the international concert stage. Her artistic profile is defined by a wide-ranging repertoire, collaborative spirit, and programmes that connect musical traditions across cultures and generations.

Highlights of the 2025/26 season include appearances at Wigmore Hall alongside András Schiff, a return to Carnegie Hall with Kirill Gerstein and the Kronberg Academy Soloists, performances as soloist with the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra at its prestigious New Year Concert under Long Yu, and appearances as both soloist and chamber musician at the Verbier Festival Shenzhen.

Recent concerto highlights include performances of Bright Sheng’s Cello Concerto in collaboration with the composer in Hong Kong, Haydn’s Cello Concerto with the Baden-Baden Philharmonic, and Schumann’s Cello Concerto with the Zurich Chamber Orchestra.

LiLa has appeared at leading international venues and festivals including Carnegie Hall, Wigmore Hall, Tonhalle Zürich, Teatro dell’Opera di Roma, Schloss Elmau, the Verbier Festival, Tsinandali Festival, the National Centre for the Performing Arts in Beijing, Shanghai Symphony Hall, and the Tchaikovsky Concert Hall in Moscow.

As a soloist, she has collaborated with orchestras including the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra, Zurich Chamber Orchestra, Württemberg Chamber Orchestra Heilbronn, Moscow Virtuosi, Prague Royal Philharmonic, Orchestra Roma Sinfonietta, Hangzhou Philharmonic Orchestra, Anima Musicae Chamber Orchestra, and the Baden-Baden Philharmonic, working with conductors including Christoph Eschenbach, Valery Gergiev, Vladimir Spivakov, Long Yu, Muhai Tang, and Heiko Mathias Förster.

A passionate chamber musician, LiLa has shared the stage with András Schiff, Janine Jansen, Kirill Gerstein, Steven Isserlis, Christian Tetzlaff, Gidon Kremer, Antje Weithaas, Tabea Zimmermann, Antoine Tamestit, and Dénes Várjon.

LiLa studied with Min Cao at the Music Middle School Affiliated to the Shanghai Conservatory of Music before continuing her studies at The Juilliard School Pre-Collegewith Richard Aaron and Sieun Lin. From 2018 to 2025, she studied with Frans Helmersonat Kronberg Academy, where she completed her Bachelor’s, Master’s and Professional Studies. She is currently studying with Nicolas Altstaedt at the Hochschule für Musik Hanns Eisler Berlin.

Among her early distinctions are First Prize at the International Tchaikovsky Competition for Young Musicians, First Prize at the Antonio Janigro International Cello Competition, First Prize at the Osaka International Music Competition, and Second Prize at the Stulberg International String Competition.

LiLa is a Pirastro Artist and performs on a Giovanni Grancino cello dating from the 1690s, generously loaned through the J&A Beare International Violin Society.