Meehae Ryo’s breathtaking technical virtuosity and captivating musicality have made her the most recognized cellist from the Republic of Korea. She strives to perform music that brings joy to both herself and her audience. Meehae has received widespread acclaim for her high-level performances. Some of the highlights of her career include performing in a trio with pianist Martha Argerich and a double concerto with renowned violinist Shlomo Mintz.
Meehae began playing the cello at the age of six. She went on to win every national competition in Korea, fueling her ambition to study abroad and develop her musical skills at one of the world’s top music schools. At the age of sixteen, she was accepted into the Juilliard School, and later completed her DMA at the University of Michigan, preparing her to become a true artist.
She is one of the most sought-after cellists, having performed with numerous orchestras including the Berlin Symphony Orchestra, Nuremberg Symphony, Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra, Israel Symphony, Hong Kong Philharmonic, Seoul Philharmonic, Rome Symphony, Zagreb Philharmonic, Athens Radio Symphony, Cairo Symphony, and many more.
With these ensembles, she has played in some of the world’s most prestigious concert halls, such as the Musikverein Golden Hall, Verdi Hall, Hercules Hall, Smetana Hall, Dvořák Hall, Liszt Hall, Carnegie Hall, Auditorium della Conciliazione, and Berliner Philharmonie.
In 2013, Meehae released an album under the Deutsche Grammophon label, featuring the Saint-Saëns and Elgar Cello Concertos. She had previously released two albums with Sony Entertainment, recording with the Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra conducted by Vladimir Valek, and with the Cosmopolitan Trio, of which she is a member.
Meehae is not only a soloist but also an active jury member in major international competitions. She has served on the jury of the George Enescu International Competition, Khachaturian International Competition, Antonio Janigro International Competition, Jeunesses Musicales International Competition in Belgrade, and the Beethoven International Competition in the Czech Republic, among others.
She is also one of the most respected cello professors in South Korea. Drawing from her personal experience, she teaches not only the technical aspects of cello performance but also what it means to live a life as a cellist. She has been invited to give masterclasses at prestigious institutions such as the University of Vienna, the Shanghai Conservatory of Music, and the Kazakhstan Conservatory of Music.
Meehae currently resides in Vienna, Austria, where she actively performs more than 30 concerts a year and holds the title of founder of the Vienna Concert Academy.
