Former State Conservatory Junior Program Student, Prominent Chinese Violist Cen Yuanding Dies

Cen Yuanding, prominent Chinese violist, former Principal Viola of the China Central Philharmonic Society (today’s China National Symphony Orchestra), a former student of the State Conservatory Junior Program, dies in Beijing after a long illness. He was 90 years old.

Born in 1934, Mr. Cen studied at the State Conservatory of Music Junior Program （国立音乐院幼年班）in Changzhou. The Junior Program was later merged into the Youth Program of the Central Conservatory of Music. After graduation, Mr. Cen became a violist of the Central Philharmonic Society. He led the viola section for decades before he retired. Highly regarded as a master violist, Mr. Cen was also a dedicated educator. He has taught some of China’s best violists, including leaders of viola sections of major orchestras, professors of music conservatories.

Mr. Cen, the third from the left in the front row, with the viola section of Central Philharmonic Society.