Professor of Horn, The Yehudi Menuhin School Qingdao

Professor of Horn and Doctoral Supervisor, Central Conservatory of Music

Director, China Horn Ensemble

Director, Beijing International Horn Festival

Man Yi began his musical journey at the Central Conservatory of Music Affiliated Middle School, studying under Professor Chen Genming. In 2003, he continued his studies under renowned Chinese horn master Professor Han Xiaoming, completing his undergraduate degree. In 2007, Man Yi won first place at the National Horn Competition and later that year, he went to Germany to further his studies. Less than a year after his arrival, at the age of 23, he became the youngest Chinese principal horn in a professional German orchestra, securing the principal horn position at the Pforzheim State Opera. In 2009, Man Yi was appointed principal horn of the Mecklenburg State Opera, where he passed his probationary period with unanimous approval. In 2010, he joined the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra, one of Asia’s top orchestras, and in 2012, he became the principal horn of the Busan Philharmonic Orchestra in South Korea under the invitation of renowned conductor Li Xincao.

Man Yi has conducted masterclasses at the Hochschule für Musik und Theater Hamburg, Alicante Brass Festival in Spain, Alexander Horn Camp in Germany, and the Busan Music Festival in South Korea. He has also served as a juror for prestigious competitions such as the Japan International Horn Competition and the Jeju International Brass Competition. Man Yi is the mastermind behind several key music projects, including the Beijing International Horn Festival, the Alexander China Horn Competition, and the China Horn Ensemble, which have set benchmarks in the field.

As one of the most sought-after horn players in China, Man Yi has performed worldwide as a guest principal horn with numerous prestigious orchestras, including the Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin (DSO), the German Radio Philharmonic Orchestra (SR), the WDR Symphony Orchestra Cologne, the Nuremberg Symphony Orchestra, the Singapore Symphony Orchestra, the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra, the Moritzburg Festival Orchestra, the Lautten Compagney Berlin, the Pforzheim Chamber Orchestra, and the Munich Chamber Orchestra. In 2012, he was invited by Maestro Myung-Whun Chung to serve as the principal horn of the Asian Philharmonic Orchestra. Domestically, Man Yi regularly performs as guest principal horn with leading orchestras such as the China Philharmonic Orchestra, National Centre for the Performing Arts Orchestra, Shenzhen Symphony Orchestra, Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra, Hangzhou Philharmonic Orchestra, Guangzhou Symphony Orchestra, Central Opera House Orchestra, Beijing Symphony Orchestra, and Qingdao Symphony Orchestra. As a soloist, he has collaborated with numerous orchestras, including the Hangzhou Philharmonic, Shenzhen Symphony, Guiyang Symphony, Evergreen Symphony, Beijing Symphony, Tianjin Symphony, Xi’an Symphony, Lanzhou Symphony, and the Kunming Nie Er Symphony Orchestra.

Man Yi has collaborated with world-renowned conductors such as Riccardo Muti, Seiji Ozawa, Myung-Whun Chung, Stanislaw Skrowaczewski, Jukka-Pekka Saraste, Jaap van Zweden, Yu Feng, Yu Long, Shui Lan, Zhang Guoyong, Lu Jia, Li Xincao, Zhang Yi, Yang, Lin Daye, Jing Huan, Huang Yi, Hong Yin, and Yuan Ding. In 2014, he recorded the Mozart Horn Concertos with the Hangzhou Philharmonic under the baton of celebrated conductor Yang, winning the prestigious "Top Ten Gold Record Award" in China.

Since returning to teach at his alma mater, the Central Conservatory of Music, in 2012, Man Yi has dedicated himself to horn education. His students have gone on to join premier orchestras such as the China Philharmonic, the National Centre for the Performing Arts Orchestra, the Central Conservatory Symphony Orchestra, and the Shenzhen Symphony Orchestra. His students have also won top prizes at national and international competitions, including the National Horn Competition, Alexander China Horn Competition, Prokofiev International Music Competition, Asia-Pacific Youth International Instrumental Championship, the Central Conservatory Middle School Scholarship Competition, Xinghai National Wind Solo and Ensemble Competition, and the Jeju International Brass Competition. Among his students, Jin Zhicheng achieved second place in the brass category at the 2023 17th Tchaikovsky International Competition, and in 2024, at the age of 17, Jin won first prize at the 75th Prague Spring International Competition in the horn category.