Curtis Appoints Internationally Acclaimed Violist and Alumna Teng Li to Faculty
Curtis Institute of Music is excited to announce the appointment of globally renowned violist and alumna Teng Li (’05) to its performance faculty, effective in the 2026–27 school year. Li, principal viola of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and a founding member of the Rosamunde String Quartet—part of the Curtis Artist Management roster—will join Curtis’ faculty beginning fall of 2026.
As a seasoned orchestral and chamber music artist, and a celebrated soloist, Li further deepens the perspectives available to students. Her expertise also strengthens the school’s unique team-teaching model, ensuring students can benefit from multiple viewpoints. Not only does this help students feel comfortable in their learning environments, but it also increases the flexibility, access, and diversity of learning experiences.
“I’m incredibly honored to return to my alma mater in this new capacity. As a student, my time at Curtis was life changing. My teachers gifted me unwavering support and enthusiasm and encouraged me to become the best musician I could be.
After many years of performing and learning from some of the most inspiring musicians of our time, I’m ready to share my experiences with this next generation, and endeavor to provide the same level of support and guidance I once received.” —Teng Li
Passing the Baton
The beginning of Li’s faculty appointment coincides with the departure of Misha Amory and Hsin-Yun Huang (’92), two beloved, long-term viola performance faculty members. Amory and Huang, who joined Curtis in 2006 and 2011, respectively, will focus on their teaching and performing commitments closer to their New York City home. They will conclude their positions at Curtis following the end of the 2025–26 school year.
“It has been an extraordinary privilege to serve at [Curtis] for the past 15 years,” Huang says. “As Curtis is my alma mater, being able to share our passions and experiences with such talented young musicians has been a joy and a blessing I have never taken for granted. And as with every wonderful chapter, this one too must come to a close.”
“It has truly been an honor to be part of this remarkable community,” Amory says. “Curtis is a true utopia and will always stand for excellence and integrity. This was by no means an easy decision, but we take comfort in seeing the school continue to evolve, knowing that the next generation of faculty will serve beautifully.”
At Curtis, Li will teach alongside renowned violists Roberto Díaz (’84) Curtis’ president and CEO, and Ed Gazouleas (’84), director of the Tanglewood Music Center.
“I am deeply grateful to Misha and Hsin-Yun for their combined years of service to Curtis, expertly guiding our student violists on their musical journeys, and I wish them all the very best,” says Díaz. “And I am thrilled to welcome Teng Li to our faculty. I look forward to working with her in this capacity. I know that our students will be in wonderful hands.”—Roberto Díaz
About Teng Li
Violist Teng Li is an internationally celebrated soloist, chamber musician and recording artist, hailed for her “burnished sound and elegant command of phrasing” (New York Times) and “a musical personality that mesmerizes the ear” (BBC Music).
Li is currently the Paul Hindemith Principal Viola Chair of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, a post she assumed at the beginning of the 2024–25 season. Previously, she was principal viola of the Los Angeles Philharmonic and served for 14 seasons as principal viola of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra.
She has appeared with premier ensembles throughout the world, including the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Toronto Symphony Orchestra, and Munich Chamber Orchestra, among many others. She is also an ardent chamber musician with notable past engagements at the Marlboro Music Festival, Chamber Music Northwest, and La Jolla Music Society SummerFest. Li is a founding member of the acclaimed Rosamunde Quartet, along with violinists Noah Bendix-Balgley and Shanshan Yao (Violin ’08), and cellist Nathan Vickery (Cello ’13).
Li has won top prizes at the Johansen International Competition, the Holland-America Music Society Competition, the Primrose International Viola Competition, the Klein International String Competition, and the ARD International Music Competition in Munich, Germany. She was also a winner of the Astral Artistic Services’ 2003 National Auditions.
A committed educator, Li has taught at the Colburn School, Roosevelt University, University of Toronto, Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto, and Montreal’s Conservatoire de Musique. She is a graduate of the Central Conservatory in Beijing, China, and the Curtis Institute of Music, where she studied with Michael Tree, Joseph de Pasquale, and Karen Tuttle.
