Xiang Lyu, born in Shanghai, began his viola studies at the
Shanghai Conservatory of Music with Xidi Shen, Sheng Li,
and Jensen Horn Sin Lam.

He continued his education at the University of Music and
Performing Arts Vienna (mdw) with Wolfgang Klos, where
he completed the viola studies with distinction and was
awarded the Austrian Federal Minister’s Prize of
Excellence.

He furthered his chamber-music studies with Johannes
Meissl, completing them with a Master of Arts degree.
As a member of the Simply Quartet, Xiang has won several
first prizes at renowned international competitions,
including the Carl Nielsen Competition in Copenhagen, the
Quatuor à Bordeaux, “Franz Schubert and Modern Music”
in Graz, and the Joseph Haydn Chamber Music
Competition in Vienna.

He has performed at the Wiener Konzerthaus, Wigmore
Hall in London, the Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg, the
Philharmonie Luxembourg and the Concertgebouw in
Amsterdam, and at festivals such as the Verbier Festival,
Casals Festival, Davos Festival, Schubertiade
Schwarzenberg, Ravenna Festival, “Viola Space” in Tokyo,
and “Viva La Viola” in Shanghai.

He has also been invited as a guest lecturer at the Zhejiang
Conservatory of Music in China.
Since October 2025, he has been serving as Senior Lecturer
at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna
(mdw).