Yun Zeng Appointed Principal Horn of the Berlin Philharmonic

After winning the audition in late 2023, Zeng has passed his probation period

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The Berlin Philharmonic announced that Yun Zeng has been officially appointed as the orchestra's Principal Horn, having passed his probation period. Zeng first won the audition for the job in November of 2023.

Zeng grew up in Sichuan and received his first horn lessons from his father, who was Principal Horn of the Sichuan Symphony Orchestra. A graduate of the Beijing Conservatory, where he studied with Quan Wen, Zeng completed his postgraduate studies at the Haute École de Musique de Genève with Bruno Schneider in 2019.

He was the first prize winner at the 2019 Tchaikovsky Competition and second place at the 70th ARD International Music Competition in 2021. Zeng has also appeared as a soloist with the orchestras of Guiyang, Shenzhen, Sichuan, and Hangzhou, among others.

In 2022, he became the first principal horn of the Staatskapelle Berlin, and after several seasons there, he was appointed to the Berliner Philharmoniker.

Playing in the Berliner Philharmoniker is an ambition that Zeng has held onto since early childhood, when he was inspired by the recordings of Stefan Dohr and Georg Schreckenberger.

"The Berliner Philharmoniker gave me a childhood full of music, and now, I'm truly thrilled to devote my future to it," Zeng wrote on social media. Thanks to all my colleagues. It was really amazing for me — a young guy sitting on that chair — to be supported by you all the time.

"And thanks to my dad, you brought me the horn. I miss you."

"Our congratulations to Yun Zeng!" wrote the orchestra in a statement.