Diyang Mei

“The instantaneous grip, the electrifying style of interpretation at all times, the logical phrasing, the rhythmic stability, and the astonishingly precise intonation characterized all of Diyang Mei’s performances.”
Since violist Diyang Mei’s brilliant success at the ARD International Music Competition 2018, where he won first prize in the viola category, the Audience Award, and several special prizes, he has continued to propel his international career.
As a soloist, Diyang Mei has performed with the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, the SWR Symphony Orchestra of Stuttgart, the Munich Chamber Orchestra, the Konzerthausorchester Berlin, the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, and at the Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania Festival, the SWR Schwetzingen Festival, the Black Forest Music Festival, and the Mozartfest in Würzburg. He has performed with András Schiff, Vadim Gluzman, Günter Pichler, Gerhard Schulz, Ana Chumachenco, Sabine Meyer, Christoph Prégardien, and Frans Helmerson, among others.Diyang Mei has held the position of 1st principal viola of the Munich Philharmonic Orchestra since autumn 2019. In October 2022, he will take up the same position with the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra.
He has been awarded first prizes at the 52nd International Instrumental Competition for Viola in Markneukirchen (2017), at the Max Rostal International Music Competition for Viola in Berlin (2015), at the Kulturkreis Gasteig Musikpreis for Strings in Munich (2015), at the IVC Young Artist Competition in Rochester (2012), at the 19th Johannes Brahms International Viola Competition in Austria (2012), and at the X International Viola and Cello Competition Villa de Llanes, Spain (2008).
His first solo album “Transforming Viola” was released in 2019. In June 2022, his second album “Viola à L’Ecole de Paris” will be released, to which he is dedicated together with the German pianist Oliver Triendl.
Diyang Mei has studied with Hariolf Schlichtig at the University of Music and Performing Arts Munich since 2014 and, from October 2019, will continue his studies with Nobuko Imai at the Kronberg Academy. He is supported by both the Yu Art Foundation of China and the Borletti-Buitoni Trust and is also a Yehudi Menuhin LMN e.V. scholar. He plays an Antonio Mariani viola from 1646, generously on loan from a private collection.