Julia Yang, cello
Praised for “her sense of joyful virtuosity” as concerto soloist (South Florida Classical Review), cellist Julia Yang is multi-faceted performer, and founding member of the “riveting” (Reading Eagle) and “impeccably elegant” Merz Trio (All About the Arts) and multidisciplinary Trio Phōs.
On stage as soloist and chamber musician, Yang has been described as the “stunning find of the evening” (New York Classical Review) with recent and forthcoming recitals at Newport Classical, the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, DACAMERA Houston, the People’s Symphony Concerts and Philadelphia Chamber Music Society.
Yang’s Merz Trio are winners of the prestigious Naumburg Chamber Music Prize as well as first prize winners of the Concert Artists Guild, Fischoff and Chesapeake International Chamber Music competitions. The Trio tour widely and present innovative multidisciplinary concert experiences that interweave repertoire of the traditional piano trio genre with diverse art forms. With her clarinet trio, Trio Phōs, Yang’s latest project, The Sound of Connection, is supported in part by the New World Symphony and a Visiting Artists residency at The Ohio State University, with a mission to foster intergenerational connection with older adults through music, dance and story-telling.
Yang’s orchestral leadership experiences includes serving as principal cellist of the Colorado Music Festival under Peter Oundjian and performing and touring as principal of the New World Symphony as a fellow under conductors such as Susanna Mälkki, Michael Tilson Thomas, John Adams, and Leonard Slatkin.
A dedicated pedagogue, Yang is Visiting Assistant Professor of Cello at The Ohio State University and has previously served as a cello instructor and chamber music coach at the University of Pennsylvania and at the College of the Holy Cross. She holds degrees from Northwestern University and the New England Conservatory. Away from the cello, you’ll find her reading or checking out the local arts scene, enjoying the outdoors or nearby gym, and cooking and crafting cocktails.