Carl Teng
Cello
Bio
Carl Teng (16) has studied cello with accomplished teacher and composer Harold Birston since age 5, and most recently also with VSO Principal Cellist Henry Shapard. Carl won the Junior Division of the VSO School of Music's Future of Excellence competition in 2020 and the Senior Division in 2022. Other achievements have included many local festival awards, key placings at the BC Performing Arts Festival (Provincials), and two Royal Conservatory of Music Provincial Gold Medals for cello exams. Passionate about his cello studies and having fun with others, he immensely enjoys ensemble work at the VSO SoM, serving as principal cello in the Sinfonietta senior string ensemble and playing in the Astral String Quartet which won both the Friends of Chamber Music Young Performers Competition (Junior Division) and the BC Provincials Provincial Excellence Division in 2023.
Carl has been honoured to play in solo masterclasses with Gary Hoffman, Mischa Maisky, Elinor Frey, Johannes Moser, and Jean-Guihen Queyras and in chamber music masterclasses with István Vardai, the New Orford String Quartet and the Viano String Quartet. He participated in the 2023 summer academy at Domaine Forget de Charlesvoix.
He lives in Delta in a music-loving family, with his sister and brother also VSO SoM students. He is an avid motorsport fan and enjoys playing volleyball and other sports.
