Biography
Klara Qiquan Cheng was born on July 3, 2007, in Winterthur, Zurich.
After foundational training at the Alato Illnau-Effretikon music school, where she studied piano with Dominique Bertschinger and violin with Máté Visky from 2010 to 2018, Klara continued her education at the Zurich Conservatory.
There, she was taught by Philip A. Draganov before deepening her studies with Xiaoming Wang, the concertmaster of the Philharmonia Zurich. Her outstanding abilities led to her being admitted as the youngest student to the Zurich University of the Arts (ZHdK) for a Bachelor of Music degree in the violin class of Professor Rudolf Koelman in 2023.
At the age of nine, Klara won first prize and a special prize at the Zurich Music Competition. A year later, she took first place at the Swiss Youth Music Competition (SJMW), first places in both the piano category and violin discipline, and second place at the International Stradivari Competition in Brunnen.
Further significant successes followed, including first prizes with distinction at the Swiss Youth Music Competition, as well as the Grand Special Prize at the International Allegra Youth Competition in 2022.
Her international career has led to performances in major concert halls and festivals worldwide. In 2017, at the age of ten, she undertook her first concert tour through China, followed by further tours in 2019 and 2021. She has performed as a soloist with renowned orchestras such as the Camerata Zurich and the Camerata Menuhin.
A highlight of her career was in 2023, when she was admitted as the youngest bachelor's student at the ZHdK at the age of fifteen and received a full scholarship to the International Menuhin Music Academy.
As one of the sixteen scholarship recipients of the International Menuhin Music Academy, she is one of the youngest and is taught by Oleg Kaskif, Renaud Capucon, and Guillaume Chilemme.
During her time at the IMMA, she regularly receives chamber music instruction from the artistic director of the Verbier Festival, Gabor Takacs-Nagy, as well as Pablo de Navéran and Enrico Onofri.
She won second prize at the Singapore International Music Competition and released a CD with the Silkroad Chamber Soloists under the direction of Rudolf Koelman.
Klara is not only in demand as a soloist but also as a chamber musician.
She regularly performs at major festivals and with leading orchestras and conductors in Europe and Asia. Special highlights of her 2023-2024 season included her solo performances in major cities in China and Italy, as well as her regular participation in the International Music Academy Liechtenstein and its virtuoso concerts.
She is also an active member of the LGT Young Soloists and often performs internationally with them.
In addition to her concert appearances, Klara places great importance on her education, regularly attending masterclasses with renowned professors such as Ana Chumachenco, Ingolf Turban, and Alexander Gilman. Her commitment to music is also reflected in her membership in the Shanghai Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese Youth Association, where she is the youngest representative.
Klara Qiquan Cheng's exceptional talent and impressive career make her one of the most promising violinists of her generation.
CV
Early Life and Education
Klara Qiquan Cheng was born in Winterthur, Zurich, and has dual Swiss and Chinese nationality. Her early education began at Illnau in Zurich, where she attended kindergarten from 2012 to 2014 and primary school from 2014 to 2020. She then continued her education at Hohe Promenade for lower secondary school and later attended MNG Rämibühl & Kunst- und Sportgymnasium PreCollege.
Higher Education
Klara’s advanced studies began in 2023 when she enrolled at Zurich University of the Arts (ZHdK) to pursue a Bachelor of Music in Violin. Concurrently, she became a member of the International Menuhin Music Academy (IMMA) and began studying for a Bachelor of Science in Economics at UniDistance Suisse from 2024 onwards.
Musical Training
Klara’s musical journey started early. She studied violin with Máté Visky and piano with Dominique Bertschinger at the Music School Alato Illnau-Effretikon from 2010 to 2018. Her violin studies continued with Philip A. Draganov at the Music School Conservatory Zurich (2019-2021) and later with Xiaoming Wang, Concertmaster of the Philharmonia Orchestra, Zurich Opera House (2021-2023). In 2022-2023, she also studied piano with Dmitri Demiashkin and music theory with Prof. Martin Wettstein at ZHdK. Her exceptional talent earned her admission to Pre College ZHdK and Kunst- und Sportgymnasium Rämibühl with the highest marks in the entrance exam. From 2023 to 2026, she continues her studies with esteemed professors Rudolf Koelman, Oleg Kaskiv, and Renaud Capuçon.
Awards and Honors
Klara’s remarkable talent has been recognized with numerous national and international awards. Notable achievements include:
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2017: Zurich Level Test 4 with sponsorship award and distinction at age 9.
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2018: 1st place and special prize in the Zurich Music Competition for an Organ & Violin Duo.
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2019: 1st prize in the Swiss Youth Music Competition (SJMW) for an Organ & Violin Duo and 2nd prize in the International Stradivari Contest Brunnen.
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2021: 1st prize (maximum points) in the Zurich Music Competition, youngest prize winner in Violin III category, and 2nd prize in Piano III category.
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2022: Grand Special Prize in the International Allegra Youth Competition, Violin category.
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2023: 1st sponsorship prize Prix Rotary, 1st prize with distinction in SJMW (Duo and Quartet categories), and 1st prize (maximum points) in the Zurich Chamber Music Competition (Category III, 1st Violin Quartet). She also became the youngest Bachelor student at Zurich University of the Arts with full marks in the audition, earned a full scholarship at the International Menuhin Music Academy, and received the Ruth-Burkhalter Foundation scholarship. Additionally, she won 2nd prize in the Singapore International Music Competition.
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2024: At age 16, Klara recorded a CD (BWV 1043 & 1060) with the Silkroad Chamber Soloists led by Rudolf Koelman and became the youngest member of the Shanghai Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese Youth Association.
Significant Performances and Tours
Klara has an extensive performance portfolio, showcasing her exceptional talent globally:
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2017: Debut concert tour in China with her mother, Prof. Qiling Chen (flute), and Prof. Ulrich Koella (piano), including performances in Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou.
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2019: Concert tour in China (Shanghai, Chengdu, Wuxi, Changzhi).
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Youngest member of the Winterthur Youth Symphony Orchestra (WJSO) at age 12, performing at Winterthur Town Hall.
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2020: Concert at Winterthur Town Hall with WJSO, performing Mozart’s "Haffner Symphony" and Ibert’s Flute Concerto No.1.
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2021: Youngest member of the Zurich Youth Symphony Orchestra (JSOZ) at age 14, performing at the CCB Ming Classics Festival & Academy and on a concert tour through Vienna, Graz, St. Wolfgang, Salzburg, and Zurich, including venues like Vienna Musikverein and Tonhalle Zurich.
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2022: Concert at Tonhalle Zurich, tour in South Korea with JSOZ, and castle concert at Schloss Höch with Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto.
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2023: First solo recital in Zurich, performances with Camerata Zurich, concerts at International Music Academy Liechtenstein, and solo performances in Italy and St. Moritz. She also performed at the KKL Lucerne, Gstaad Baroque Academy, and on tours with LGT Young Soloists, ZHdK Strings, and Menuhin Academy
Master Classes
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Klara has honed her craft through master classes with renowned musicians, including Prof. Philip A. Draganov, Prof. Jose G. Flores, Bartlomiej Niziol, Barbara Doll, Xiaoming Wang, Prof. Alexander Gilman, Prof. Ning Feng, and Weiwei. She has also participated in intensive weeks at the International Music Academy Liechtenstein with Prof. Ana Chumachenco and Prof. Ingolf Turban.
Klara Qiquan Cheng’s prodigious talent, dedication, and impressive achievements mark her as one of the most promising young musicians of her generation. Her journey is a testament to her exceptional artistry and unwavering commitment to music.
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