2012 Cello Faculty

Bonian Tian was born in 1986 in Shenyang, China and began studying cello with Prof. Wang Jifu at the Shenyang Conservatory of Music. In 1997, Bonian moved to Beijing to pursue his studies with Mrs. Na Mula at the Affiliated School of the Central Conservatory of Music before coming to Germany, first to work with David Geringas at the Hochschule für Musik "Hanns Eisler", then at the Hochschule für Musik in Cologne with Prof. Frans Helmerson.

In 2002, Bonian was awarded 1st Prize and the Gold Medal at the Fourth International Tchaikovsky Competition for Young Musicians in Xiamen, China, followed by 1st Prize at the Davidov International Competition in Latvia and 2nd Prize at the Fourth International Antonio Janigro Cello Competition in Zagreb. He has appeared regularly at the Schleswig-Holstein Festival and toured Germany as an ambassador for Yehudi Menuhin's Live Music Now.

Bonian has performed as a soloist with the Zagreb Philharmonic, the Latvian National Orchestra, and the Shanghai Symphony, and has given recitals at the Philharmonie in Berlin, Copenhagen's Tivoli, the Seoul Centre for Culture and Music, and in a private audience for Queen Margrethe of Denmark. Bonian has worked with conductors Oue Eiji, Christoph Eschenbach and Christoph von Dohnanyi, among others, and in January 2010, joined the Gürzenich Orchestra in Cologne as Principal Cellist.

Bonian enjoys special support from Larson Strings A/S of Denmark, East Bridge Service Ltd. in China, and performs on a custom-made cello by Patrick Robin, Paris. He joined Kronberg Academy Further Masters Studies in October 2010 to study with Professor Frans Helmerson.