Bonian Tian

Bonian Tian was born in 1986 in Shenyang, China and began studying cello with Prof. Wang Jifu at the Shenyang Conservatory of Music. In 1997, Bonian moved to Beijing to pursue his studies with Mrs. Na Mula at the Affiliated School of the Central Conservatory of Music before coming to Germany, first to work with David Geringas at the Hochschule für Musik "Hanns Eisler", then at the Hochschule für Musik in Cologne and joined Kronberg Academy Further Masters Studies in October 2010 with Professor Frans Helmerson.

In 2002, Bonian was awarded 1st Prize and the Gold Medal at the Fourth International Tchaikovsky Competition for Young Musicians in Xiamen, China, followed by 1st Prize at the Davidov International Competition in Latvia, 2nd Prize at the Fourth International Antonio Janigro Cello Competition in Zagreb, 1st Prize at George Enescu International Competition in Romania and 2nd Prize at the 3th International André Navarra Cello competition in France. He has appeared regularly at the Schleswig-Holstein Festival, and Reingau Music Festival.

Bonian has performed as a soloist with the Zagreb Philharmonic, the Latvian National Orchestra, the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra, the China Philharmonic, Taiwan National Symphony Orchestra, Amadeus Orchester Salzburg, Toulouse Symphony Orchestra and has given recitals at the Philharmonie in Berlin, Copenhagen's Tivoli, the Seoul Centre for Culture and Music, and in a private audience for Queen Margrethe of Denmark. Bonian has worked with Christoph Eschenbach, Christoph von Dohnanyi, Gidor Kremer, Yuri Bashmet, Andras Schiff, Sir Neville Marriner, Steven Isserlis and Christian Tetzlaff, among others, and in January 2010, joined the Gürzenich Orchestra in Cologne as Principal Cellist.

He has been Principal Cellist at the Gürzenich Orchestra Cologne since 2010. 

Since 2012, he has been teaching Cello at the Hochschule für Musik und Darstellende Kunst in Frankfurt am Main, and in 2015 became Guest Professor at Central Conservatory of Music Beijing China. Since December 2018 he has been holding a position as Artistic Training Assistant at the Kronberg Academy Study Programmes. Since winter term 2023/24, he additionally holds the position of a professor at Stella Conservatory, Vorarlberg (Austria). 

Bonian performs on a custom-made cello by Patrick Robin, Paris. 

2010-2012, he has been studying at Kronberg Academy with Frans Helmerson, funded by the Dieter und Elisabeth Feddersen Scholarship.