VITA

The name "BenMo" originates from the Chinese philosophical concept of "本末" (Benmo), symbolizing the beginning and end of things, as well as their essence. The BenMo Trio was founded with the goal of collaborating with contemporary composers and artists from various fields, meticulously refining every detail of a work from start to finish, ultimately revealing the profound meaning behind each piece to the audience.

The BenMo Trio’s music focuses on contemporary works from the 20th and 21st centuries, encompassing but not limited to the traditional piano trio format. The distinct sonic effects produced by various instrumental media, along with the multidimensional integration of dance and theater, are key aspects of contemporary music. The BenMo Trio is passionate about collaborating with composers to explore new soundscapes and forms of stage performance, aiming to bring each composer's "ideal artistic world" to life on stage.

The three members of BenMo—Muzi Lyu (violin), Yiyang Zhao (cello), and Ying Yu (piano)—all studied contemporary music performance at Folkwang University of the Arts in Essen under Prof. Barbara Maurer. Their collaboration began in 2019, and they officially debuted as the BenMo Trio at the Hörfest Neue Musik Detmold in 2023. In 2024, the BenMo Trio collaborated with numerous renowned Chinese contemporary composers to record their debut contemporary music album, Petrichor, which was released by Patch Cord Records.

Muzi Lyu

Violin

Muzi Lyu, born in Nanjing, China in 1996, is a remarkable young violinist. He completed his Bachelor's degree in violin at the Hanover University of Music and Drama under the tutelage of Professor Adam Kostecki in 2020, followed by a Master's degree in Contemporary Music Performance at the Folkwang University of the Arts in Essen under Professor Barbara Maurer in 2024. Muzi Lyu is the first-prize winner of the Schönfeld International String Competition and has performed as a soloist and chamber musician at numerous contemporary music festivals, including the Klangbrücken Festival in Hanover in 2021, the NOW! Festival in Essen in 2021 and 2022, the Warsaw Autumn Festival in 2021, the Impuls Festival in 2023, and the Hörfest Festival in 2023. Muzi Lyu has also participated in the Darmstadt International Summer Courses for New Music in 2021 and the Impuls Academy in Graz, Austria in 2023. He is also a recipient of the DAAD scholarship in 2023. Muzi Lyu has premiered numerous works by contemporary composers, including Günter Steinke, Snezana Nesic, Markus Roth, Philipp Henkel, Monika Szpyrka, Simon Bahr, Jaeduk Kim, Jinwook Jung, Tamara Miller, Marijana Janevska, Zou Hao, and Po Chien Liu. He has studied with Ensemble Recherche and performed with ensembles such as Ensemble Musikfabrik, Flex Ensemble, Ensemble Spring, Peripherie Quartett, and the Folkwang Contemporary Ensemble. He has also received valuable insights from composers such as Pierluigi Billone, Melise Mellinger, Shizuyo Oka, Klaus Steffes-Holländer, Sara Cubarsi, and Ernst Kovacic, and has performed alongside renowned musicians such as Pierre-Laurent Aimard, Hannah Weirich, Susanne Blumenthal, Eva Resch, Snezana Nesic, Rüdiger Bohn, Eva Fodor, and Klaudiusz Baran. In 2023, Muzi Lyu joined the Benmo Trio as a violinist. "He has a deep interest in exploring the sonic possibilities of new playing techniques. His talent lies in his patience in perfecting these techniques and combining them with his rigorously trained violin skills. He is equally at home in the most complex and demanding works as he is in the most sensitive microtonal compositions or pieces characterized by overtones." - Barbara Maurer

Yiyang Zhao

Cello

Yiyang Zhao who was born in Beijing, China is a cellist currently active in the international contemporary music scene. He has performed in many world-renowned festivals such as the Munich Biennale, Now! Festival Essen, Daegu International Contemporary Music Festival, ZKM Festival Karlsruhe, and the Beijing Modern Music Festival. As a guest solo cellist for new music, he worked with the National Theater Mannheim on the project “The Damned and the Saved” in 2022. From 2023 to 2024, he collaborated with the Bochum Schauspielhaus on the project “Danton Tod.” At the same time, Yiyang Zhao has also been invited by the Goethe-Institut, the Minzu University of China, and the New Music Room to give academic lectures on contemporary music. As a professional musician in the specialized field of classical new music, Yiyang Zhao has a unique understanding of sound production. Through his systematic studies and rich accumulation of performance experience, he is known for a wide palette of sound effects and colors that composers intend. At the same time, his interpretation is full of passion and poetry. Through his excellent control of time and space, he can create an impressive atmosphere and connect with his for his audience. Based on his love for performance, his activities also extend into music theater for he enjoys collaborations with artists of various disciplines. Yiyang Zhao first studied at the Minzu University of China and later in Germany, where he obtained his master's degrees from three different music universities: namely the Musikhochschule Lübeck, Folkwang University of the Arts, and International Ensemble Modern Academy (Hochschule für Musik und Darstellende Kunst Frankfurt am Main). He studied cello with Li Wang and Professor Ulf Tischbirek as well as contemporary music cello with Professor Barbara Maurer, Michael Kasper, Eva Böcker, and Professor Lucas Fels. He studied contemporary music theory with Professor Günter Steinke and Bojidar Spassov. He is the winner of the Essen Folkwang Prize in 2019 and 2nd Prize in the 2022 John Cage Award.

Ying Yu

Piano

Ying Yu, born in Shenyang, China, is a versatile artist active in both music and visual arts. She began studying piano at the age of five, receiving instruction from Prof. Liu Ning and later from Prof. Vladimir Petrov. From 2005 to 2011, she attended the Music High School of the Shenyang Conservatory of Music, focusing on piano. In 2011, Ying Yu moved to Germany to further her studies. In 2017, she earned her bachelor's degree in piano at the Carl Maria von Weber College of Music in Dresden under the guidance of Prof. Gunther Anger. She then pursued a master's degree in improvisation with Tilo Augsten at the University of Music and Theatre Leipzig. Ying Yu's piano performance has been deeply influenced by contemporary violinist Alwyn Thomas Westbrooke and pianist Dr. Ermis Theodorakis, as well as her strong interest in contemporary music. This passion led her to pursue a second master's degree at the Folkwang University of the Arts in Essen, where she studied with Prof. Barbara Maurer and Prof. Günter Steinke, focusing on contemporary music performance. Ying Yu’s main areas of work include contemporary music, music theater, and performance art. As a soloist and chamber musician, she has collaborated with renowned composers such as Brian Ferneyhough, Martin Schüttler, Johannes Kreidler, and Dániel Péter Biró. In 2019, she participated in the Impuls 11th International Ensemble and Composers Academy for Contemporary Music. She was a member of Ensemble Contemporary Insights and Ensemble Fons, and in 2023, she joined the BenMo Trio. In addition to her musical achievements, Ying Yu is also an accomplished visual artist. Her contemporary paintings and installations have been exhibited at the Colory Gallery in Berlin. Since 2013, she has been actively involved in organizing artistic exhibitions in castles and museums across Germany, including the "You Are the Art! - 3D Interactive Illusions from China" exhibition series.