“Lu’s viola sang nobly.” — The Classical Review 

Violist Yuchen Lu is recognized for his expressive artistry, distinctive musical voice, and compelling performances as a soloist and chamber musician. He is an Associate Musician of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and has appeared on prominent stages and concert series throughout the United States and internationally. 

Lu is the First Prize winner of the George and Elizabeth Gregory Concerto Competition and the 2021 Irving M. Klein International String Competition. He also received Second Prize at the 2019 Lionel Tertis International Viola Competition. As a soloist, he has performed with orchestras including the Shanghai Philharmonic Orchestra, Santa Cruz Symphony Orchestra, Mannes Symphony Orchestra, and Stony Brook Symphony Orchestra. His performances have taken him to Carnegie Hall, Jordan Hall, Shanghai Concert Hall and Staller Center, among other venues. He has also appeared on WQXR radio and at the Boston Conservatory and Gualala Arts Chamber Music Series. 

A dedicated chamber musician, Lu was a fellow at the Marlboro Music Festival in 2022 and 2024, where he collaborated with distinguished artists including Mitsuko Uchida, Joseph Lin, Nobuko Imai, and Marcy Rosen. His festival appearances also include Morningside Music Bridge, Bowdoin International Music Festival, Yellow Barn, and the Seiji Ozawa Orchestra Academy. In 2025, he was invited to serve as Artist-in-Residence at the Weekend of Chamber Music. Mr. Lu is also part of the Perlman Music Program’s Winter Residency in Sarasota, Florida, as a viola instructor. 

Equally committed to teaching, Lu has developed an active teaching career, with students gaining admission to leading institutions including The Juilliard School, Mannes School of Music, and Manhattan School of Music. He has also been invited to give masterclasses as part of the Boston Conservatory’s String Masters Series. He currently serves as a Teaching Assistant to Carol Rodland at The Juilliard School. 

Lu holds a Professional Studies Diploma from the Mannes School of Music, a Master of Music degree from The Juilliard School, and a Bachelor of Music degree from the New England Conservatory, where he studied with Milan Milisavljević, Carol Rodland, and Kim Kashkashian. Prior to his studies in the United States, he studied with Li Sheng in Shanghai. He is currently pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts degree at Stony Brook University, studying with Lawrence Dutton and Matthew Lipman.