BIOGRAPHY
Yao Xiao is a pianist who approaches music with curiosity, sincerity and a love of collaboration. As an enthusiastic chamber musician, she finds particular joy in sharing music with others and exploring the many ways music can communicate across cultures, backgrounds, and experiences.
Yao Xiao recently graduated from the Cleveland Institute of Music with a Bachelor of Music degree in Piano Performance, where she studied with Daniel Shapiro. She received her early professional training at the Xinghai Conservatory of Music under Songwen Li. In addition to her work as apianist, Yao has pursued musical interests in conducting, organ, and voice, experiences that have broadened her artistic perspective and enriched her approach to performance.
Yao has appeared in numerous solo performances, including recitals at Harkness Chapel and Mixon Hall, as well as the Museum Melodies recital series at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History. In 2025, she was selected as a solo pianist for the Aspen Music Festival, where she performed in the Overtures pre-concert chamber music series at Harris Concert Hall. A passionate chamber musician, Yao regularly collaborates with instrumentalists and vocalists across a wide range of repertoire. She was awarded Thrid Prize in the 32nd Annual Darius Milhaud Performance Prize Competition.