Yang Gao

Born in Dalian, China, Yang Gao began studying piano at the age four and gave his first recital at ten.

His recent highlights include winning first prize in the Harrison Winter Concerto Competition and performing Brahms Piano Concerto No. 1 with the Peabody Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Stefan Asbury. He has also been featured in the Rising Star Series at Portland Piano International and on WQXR Classical Music Radio Station. Additionally, he performed as a soloist for the Mannes Sound Festival at Weill Recital Hall in Carnegie Hall.

Gao has appeared across the United States to present recitals and chamber music concerts in venues such as Werner Recital Hall in Cincinnati; Dana Auditorium in Greensboro; and Bohemian National Hall, German Consulate General New York, and Weill Recital Hall in Carnegie Hall in New York City.

He has also competed in prestigious international competitions, including the Charles Wadsworth Piano Competition and the Leeds International Piano Competition, and will appear in the Chopin International Piano Competition in 2025.

Gao was among the few young artists to receive a 2022 Gilmore Piano Festival fellowship. He has been featured in masterclasses and recitals at PianoSummer at New Paltz, Art of the Piano, Eastern Music Festival, Mannes Sound Festival, and Sarasota Music Festival.

Gao has been a scholarship recipient of the Art of Piano Foundation and the Feltsman Piano Foundation. He also received The Steinway Award from the Mannes School of Music and Denes and Mary Agay Piano and Composition Scholarship from the Peabody Institute.

He received his B.M. in piano performance from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music under Awadagin Pratt, and M.M. in piano performance from Mannes School of Music with Vladimir Feltsman. He is currently pursuing a DMA in piano at the Peabody Conservatory of Music with HieYon Choi.