The Shanghai Quartet

First Violin and Co-founder – Born in Shanghai shortly before Mao’s Cultural Revolution began, Weigang is a third-generation classical violinist with deep roots in the Shanghai chamber music community. His parents were both violin teachers and his mother performed in the Shanghai Symphony for many years before, during, and after the Cultural Revolution. His family was under regular surveillance by the Red Guard during this period. Weigang and his colleagues came to the U.S. in 1985 as a newly discovered classical string quartet after winning second place in Yehudi Menuhin’s music competition in London.

Second Violin – Joined the Shanghai Quartet 26 years ago. He was born in Beijing to parents who were musicians in China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA). Noted for his stylistic and creative skills, Yi-Wen came to the U.S. to study under Arnold Steinhardt, first violin of the Guarneri Quartet. In addition to teaching and performing, Jiang wrote classical string arrangements for popular Chinese folk songs.

Violist and Co-founder – After performing on violin for more than ten years, Honggang changed to viola in order to recruit Yi-Wen Jiang as a new member of the Shanghai Quartet as second violinist. In addition to his extraordinary musical talent, Honggang has a passion for drawing and design – he spent the past four years renovating a tavern built in 1803 and an adjacent church. His renovated church is now a performance space and is featured in Behind the Strings. Honggang met his wife Yen Yu also a classical violinist while attending Juilliard.

Cellist – Nick joined the Quartet in 2000 and is over a decade younger than his colleagues. Hired for his extraordinary cello performance skills, he also brought a New York City attitude that is very different from the laid-back style of his three Chinese colleagues. Nick is a second-generation classical musician. With three small children, he and his wife Sophia juggle very complex and stressful lives since Nick is away for 180 days a year to perform. When he returns home, he puts his phone in a drawer and focuses on his family, 23 chickens, and a honeybee farm.