Zhenwei Shi is Principal Viola of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, a position to which he was appointed by Robert Spano at the age of twenty-three. He is recognized for his rich, centered tone.
Highlights of his 2025–26 season included a tenure as Principal Viola of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra under Manfred Honeck, a performance of Berlioz’s Harold in Italy with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, Kodály’s Adagio for Viola and Piano with pianist Julie Coucheron at Spivey Hall, and a featured chamber concert with violinist Stefan Jackiw.
Mr. Shi has performed as guest violist with the San Francisco Symphony and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. His chamber music collaborators have included Steven Isserlis, Joshua Bell and Jeremy Denk, with appearances at venues including Carnegie Hall, Wigmore Hall, Royal Festival Hall, Buckingham Palace and the Shanghai Concert Hall.
A prizewinner at the Lionel Tertis, Johansen and Hong Kong International competitions, he also received the Regent’s Award from the Royal Academy of Music. Mr. Shi serves on the artist-faculty of the Aspen Music Festival and School and is a graduate of the Royal Academy of Music and the San Francisco Conservatory of Music.
