Piano

BM Piano Performance: Manhattan School of Music
MM Piano Performance: Rice University
MM Orchestral Conducting: Cleveland Institute of Music
DMA Orchestral Conducting: University of Maryland 

Pianist and Conductor Shun Yao has been praised for his “natural affinity with  music” and “dedication for his art.” 

Grew up in the city of New York, Mr. Yao studied piano with Nina Svetlanova at  Manhattan School of Music and worked with other prestigious artists such as Nikolai  Demidenko, Boris Slutsky, and Jerome Rose. He was often acknowledged for his rich  tone and innate sense of timing. Performances took him to various venues around the  city. Subsequently, he earned his Master’s degree at Rice University in Houston. 

An avid chamber musician, Mr. Yao has been coached by members of Tokyo  Quartet and Medici Quartet, among others. He has also collaborated with singers from  Seattle Opera and National Opera, as well as members of Houston Symphony,  Nashville Symphony, and Jacksonville Symphony. Taking on the spirit of collaboration  and adventure, Mr. Yao has committed himself to orchestral conducting since 2018. His  mentors include prominent figures such as Paavo Järvi (Tonhalle-Orchester, Zürich and  NHK Symphony, Tokyo), Tomáš Netopil (Czech Philharmonic), and Marin Alsop  (Baltimore Symphony, Vienna Radio Symphony, Polish National Radio Symphony). He  has worked with ensembles in U.K., Italy, Hong Kong, Czech Republic, Denmark, and  across the US, and premiered works by Moni Guo, Grace Ann Lee, and Benjamin  Morris. During the coronavirus pandemic, he organized the first virtual orchestra project  at the Cleveland Institute of Music. 

Mr. Yao always finds great joy in teaching. Whether it’s one-on-one piano and  music theory lessons or working with student orchestras, whether it’s guiding children to  find the middle C on the keyboard or helping young professionals to prepare for  orchestra auditions, he is always driven by the satisfaction of sharing his passion for  music.