Shanshan Yao
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Chinese violinist Shanshan Yao joined the first violin section of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra in 2009, while still pursuing her Master of Music Degree at The Juilliard School. As a soloist, Ms. Yao has performed with Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, Calgary Civic Symphony, Banff Centre Chamber Orchestra, and Japan’s Sendai Philharmonic Orchestra. She made her orchestra debut at the age of twelve with the Shanghai Radio Symphony Orchestra. In February 2009, her debut recital at Canada National Arts Centre, Ottawa, received critical acclaim. She was also invited to appear in a special performance for the former Secretary of State Colin Powell at the Eisenhower Fellowships Conference in Philadelphia.

Ms. Yao is the recipient of numerous awards and prizes including first prizes in the Calgary Concerto Competition and Morningside Music Bridge Concerto Competition (Canada), second prize in the Shean String Competition (Canada), and Hellam Young Artists Competition (USA) as well as prizes in the Corpus Christi International Competition for Piano and Strings (USA) and the Michael Hill International Violin Competition (New Zealand). As one of the winners of the CBC Radio’s Up and Coming series – a showcase of promising young talents, she had the opportunity to share the stage with Jon Kimura Parker.

Ms. Yao is also an established chamber musician and has participated in festivals such as Aspen Music Festival and School, Music from Angel Fire, The Banff Centre, Summit and Sarasota Music Festivals and Music @ Menlo where she served as chamber music coach in 2009. Her piano trio won the second prize in the National Music Festival in Canada. Ms. Yao has collaborated with such renowned artists as Ida Kavafian, Steve Tenenbom, Jeremy Denk, Ransom Wilson, among others.

A violinist since the age of six, Ms. Yao enrolled at Shanghai Conservatory of Music when she was nine. She continued her studies in Canada as a full–scholarship student in Mount Royal Conservatory’s Academy Program. Ms. Yao received the Bachelor of Music Degree from the prestigious Curtis Institute of Music, and Master of Music Degree from The Juilliard School. Her teachers included Aaron Rosand, Donald Weilerstein, Ronald Copes, William van der Sloot and Xiaoming Wu.