Chinese-American conductor and pianist Yun Cao is recognized for his musical versatility, energetic presence, and compelling musicianship. From classical concerts to opera and musical theater productions, his diverse musical palette has led him to Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, Severance Hall, Chicago Symphony Hall, the Lincoln Center, and major concert halls in Asia and Europe. 

 

Yun serves as Assistant Conductor for the Palm Beach Symphony in West Palm Beach, Florida, as well as Resident Conductor for the Aurora School of Music. He is also the associate conductor for the Frost Symphony Orchestra and Graduate Teaching Assistant for the Orchestral Studies Program at the Frost School of Music at the University of Miami under the tutelage of Gerard Schwarz. At Frost, he manages over a hundred student musicians in the orchestras, coordinates special events and guest artists including Joshua Bell and Pinchas Zukerman. Yun has conducted and performed throughout the United States, Asia, and Europe. As a pianist, he has played side-by-side with the Cleveland Orchestra, soloed concerti with orchestras across the nation, led Baroque ensembles from the harpsichord, and is an avid chamber musician. He is also the Second Prize winner of the American Protégé International Piano Competition and was a member of the 2016 Cleveland International Piano Competition Junior Jury. 

 

In addition to his assistantship duties at the Palm Beach Symphony and the Frost School, he is a sought-out collaborative musician on the podium and at the keyboard. His involvements at the University of Miami have led to world premieres of compositions, children’s concerts, and collaborations between the Adrienne Arsht Center of Performance Arts, the Lowe Art Museum, and the Frost School of Music.  His involvement with that unique music and visual arts project led to a public television production that involves South Florida PBS, the University of Miami’s School of Architecture, and the Frost School of Music. Also at the Frost School, Yun also assisted Gerard Schwarz in the world premiere of Michael Dellaria’s opera, “The Leopard” to great national and international acclaim. He has also worked with Rob Kapilow in bringing back Family Concerts to the Frost School of Music with a celebrated performance of “Green Eggs and Hamadeus.” 

 

Graduated summa cum laude from Cleveland State University with a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance, Yun studied with Joela Jones, Principal Keyboardist Emeritus of the Cleveland Orchestra and renowned organist Todd Wilson. He had also completed some graduate keyboard studies at CSU as a Graduate Assistant in the School of Music before attending the University of Miami. Dedicated to bringing music to a wider audience, Yun has performed outreach concerts throughout the US including lecture recitals to the Florida Honors Collegiate Council, receiving wide recognition from both the community and university that led to the creation of student/faculty collaborative research programs. Upcoming engagements include guest presentation at the Virginia Music Educators’ Association, a production of Kurt Weill’s opera, “Street Scene” as conductor for the Frost Opera Theater, and Frost Signature Series Carnival of the Animals Family Concert in Miami, FL. Yun has conducted for and received mentorship from renowned conductors, including Gerard Schwarz, Larry Rachleff, Don Schleicher, and Miguel Harth-Bedoya. For more information, please visit yunxcao.com