Second Violin
Zhen Liu was appointed to the violin section of the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra in 2023 under the esteemed leadership of JoAnn Falletta. In addition to his tenure with the BPO, he performs with the Colorado Music Festival Orchestra under the baton of Peter Oundjian and with the Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra, led by Rossen Milanov.
Liu is recognized for his refined musicality and expressive artistry. He holds a Master of Music degree from The Orchestra Now and a double-major bachelor’s degree from Bard College. His principal teachers include Shmuel Ashkenasi, Arnold Steinhardt, and Weigang Li.
Liu served as Concertmaster for The Orchestra Now and the Bard Conservatory Orchestra, and has performed in Carnegie Hall, Fisher Center, Jazz at Lincoln Center, and Symphony Space (NYC). These experiences led him to work with world-renowned conductors including JoAnn Falletta, Leonard Slatkin, Carlos Miguel Prieto, Leon Botstein, Xian Zhang, Tan Dun, and others. He has performed with esteemed orchestras including the San Antonio Opera Orchestra and the St. Louis, Albany, Princeton, and Suzhou symphonies. Liu has been recognized in the Stern and Menuhin international violin competitions, and is a prizewinner of the Bard Conservatory Concerto Competition, Morning-side Music Bridge Chamber Competition, and Hong Kong International Violin Competition. He has also participated in international music festivals, including those of Beijing, the Heifetz International Music Institute, Keshet Eilon Summer Mastercourse, and Calgary Morning-side Music Bridge.