Jialin Yao

Pianist Jialin Yao has captivated audiences worldwide with his “exquisite melody and profound understanding” and “supreme touch control” (The Boston Musical Intelligencer). His warmth, passion, and artistry have brought him to prestigious venues including Lincoln Center’s Alice Tully Hall, Jordan Hall in Boston, Benaroya Hall in Seattle, Warsaw National Philharmonic Hall, and the Beijing Concert Hall, as well as major festivals such as the Verbier Festival, PianoFest in the Hamptons, Aspen Music Festival, Gilmore Festival, and Ravinia Festival. He has appeared as a soloist with the Castilla y León Symphony Orchestra, Beijing Symphony Orchestra, Friuli Venezia Giulia Orchestra, Málaga Philharmonic Orchestra, Boulder Symphony, Mercury Orchestra, and Miami Chamber Orchestra. He has collaborated with distinguished conductors including Zoe Zeniodi, Xincao Li, Devin Patrick Hughes, Lihua Tan, Channing Yu, Salvador Vázquez, Paolo Paron, and En Shao.

Jialin has been a prize-winner of the 65th Ferruccio Busoni International Piano Competition, Fou T’song International Piano Competition, Frechilla-Zuloaga International Piano Prize, Málaga City International Piano Competition, Seattle International Piano Competition, Teresa Carreño International Piano Competition, Wideman International Piano Competition, Friuli Venezia Giulia International Piano Competition, and Singapore International Piano Competition, among others.

A sensitive and keen chamber musician, Jialin has performed with esteemed artists such as Aaron Boyd, Bin Huang, Midori, Tarn Travers, the Amernet String Quartet, Quarteto Carmen Thyssen, and Quarteto Academia China. He has studied at The Juilliard School and SMU Meadows School of the Arts under the guidance of Sergei Babayan. Beginning in Fall 2026, he will pursue an Artist Diploma at The Juilliard School in New York, where he will continue his studies with Babayan.