Rooted by a sibling bond that transcends the familial, the JUNO-nominated Cheng² Duo (pronounced Cheng Squared Duo) transfixes listeners through its impassioned expressivity, contagious joy, and an uncanny ability to forge instant and lasting connections with global audiences—critics have hailed their performances as “brilliant” (The Sunday Times, UK), “truly exhilarating” (The WholeNote, Canada), and “absolutely captivating…through a tremendous mastery of their instruments” (Pizzicato Magazine, Luxembourg). 

Cellist Bryan Cheng, prizewinner of the 2022 Queen Elisabeth Competition and Ver bier Festival’s coveted Prix Yves Paternot, and pianist Silvie Cheng, 2022-23 Cecilia Concerts Musician-in-Residence, have been making music together for nearly their entire lives. Since officially forming the Cheng² Duo at their 2011 Carnegie Weill Hall debut, their artistry has left lasting impressions across the globe, with extensive tours to illustrious concert halls and international festivals throughout North America, Europe, Asia, and South Africa.

Recent and upcoming highlights include debuts at the Frauenkirche Dresden, Flagey (Brussels), Munich Künstlerhaus, California Center for the Arts, Dame Myra Hess Series (Chicago), Chamber Music at the Clark (Los Angeles), Harvard University, Isabel Bader Centre for the Performing Arts (Kingston), Banff International String Quartet Festival, Rockport Chamber Music Festival, Heidelberger Frühling Festival, Waterford Concert Series (VA), Music Toronto; guest soloist appearances with the "Banatul" Philharmonic; returns to Montréal’s Salle Bourgie, Ottawa Chamberfest, Chamberfest Cheboygan; and recital tours in Europe (North Macedonia, Romania, Switzerland, Germany), Colombia, India, South Africa, and Canada.

In the vanguard of creative programming, Bryan and Silvie are equally committed to presenting traditional masterworks, rediscovering neglected repertoire, and championing the music of their time. Since 2013, they have commissioned and arranged 15 new works, as well as curated cross-disciplinary concert experiences that meld classical and contemporary music with jazz, poetry, and visual/media arts.

Cheng² Duo has released four critically-acclaimed albums, most recently Portrait (Centrediscs, 2023), which was nominated for a 2024 JUNO Award for Classical Album of the Year —Small Ensemble. Born in Ottawa and Tokyo to Chinese parents, Bryan and Silvie are proud Canadians who are currently based in Berlin and New York City.