Cellist Cho Eunhye Appointed as a Permanent Member of the Düsseldorf Symphony Orchestra

Cellist Cho Eunhye, an alumna of the Department of Instrumental Music at the School of Music, has been appointed as a permanent member of the Düsseldorf Symphony Orchestra, Germany’s second-oldest municipal orchestra, with a 400-year history.”

Cho is the second South Korean musician to hold a permanent position in the orchestra. The first was Professor Kim Doomin of Seoul National University, who served as its principal cellist from 2004 to 2022.

After earning her bachelor’s degree at K-Arts, Cho completed a master’s at Folkwang University of the Arts and is currently pursuing the Concert Diploma – the highest level postgraduate degree in Germany – at the University of Music and Theatre Leipzig. In June, she won first place in a three-round audition, competing against more than thirty invited candidates from various countries. Her permanent appointment was officially confirmed on December 28, following a unanimous vote by orchestra members after her apprenticeship period.

The appointment process for a permanent membership at the Düsseldorf Symphony Orchestra – considered a dream opportunity among classical musicians – is known for its rigor. Candidates must pass three to four rounds of open auditions and complete a training period lasting six months to a year before being approved through an orchestra-wide vote.

Previously, Cho served as a member of the WDR Symphony Orchestra Academy for two years and as an active performer with the Respiro Quartet, a string quartet. Respiro Quartet was the first Asian ensemble to win third place at the International Anton Rubinstein Competition.

Cho shared, “It’s an honor to join Düsseldorf, a place I’ve always aspired to be. I’m especially grateful to share this good news with my mother, who is now recovering. I’ll do my best to grow into a performer worthy of this opportunity.”