Violist Teng Li Appointed to Curtis Faculty

December 18, 2025, 1:47 PM · The Philadelphia-based Curtis Institute of Music has appointed violist Teng Li to its performance faculty, beginning in the fall of 2026.

Violist Teng Li. Photo by Todd Rosenberg.

Li, who currently is principal viola of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, is a 2005 alumna of Curtis, where she studied with Michael Tree, Joseph de Pasquale, and Karen Tuttle.

"I’m incredibly honored to return to my alma mater in this new capacity," said Li. "As a student, my time at Curtis was life-changing. My teachers gifted me unwavering support and enthusiasm and encouraged me to become the best musician I could be. After many years of performing and learning from some of the most inspiring musicians of our time, I’m ready to share my experiences with this next generation, and endeavor to provide the same level of support and guidance I once received."

Born in Nanjing, China, Li began violin at age five and entered the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing in 1992 then came to Curtis at age 16. Li has been principal viola in Chicago since 2024; prior to that she was principal viola of the Los Angeles Philharmonic from 2018 to 2024. Before that she served for 14 seasons as principal viola of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. She is also a founding member of the Rosamunde String Quartet, which is part of the Curtis Artist Management roster.

Li has won top prizes at the Johansen International Competition, the Holland-America Music Society Competition, the Primrose International Viola Competition, the Klein International String Competition, and the ARD International Music Competition in Munich, Germany. She was also a winner of the Astral Artistic Services’ 2003 National Auditions.

Li has taught at the Colburn School, Roosevelt University, University of Toronto, Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto, and Montreal’s Conservatoire de Musique.

Li's arrival at Curtis will coincide with the departure of two long-term viola performance faculty members: Misha Amory and Hsin-Yun Huang, a married pair who intend to focus on their teaching and performing commitments closer to their New York City home. They will conclude their positions at Curtis at the end of the 2025–26 school year.

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Violist Teng Li Appointed to Curtis Faculty

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