Section Li Cheng Li Cheng was selected to become a cellist when he was 10 on full sponsorship by the State. Born in Tianjin, he remembers, 'I had no clue in music whatsoever and one fine day, a music teacher brought me to a piano, made me sing a few notes and measured the span of my hands. Then he proclaimed I should learn the cello!' From 1980-88 he was Principal Cellist with the Tianjin Symphony Orchestra. In 1988 he furthered his studies in Sydney and in 1989 he won First Prize for Cello at the prestigious Sydney Eisteddford Competition. During his stay there, he was Principal Cellist with the Balmain Symphony Orchestra and the Strathfield Symphony Orchestra. He was also a member of the Shanghai String Quartet before joining the SSO in October 1993. Back to musician list