Chinese American conductor, arts administrator, 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 Music Director of the Aurora Philharmonic Orchestra, Associate Conductor of the Frost Symphony Orchestra, Lead Doctoral Graduate Teaching Assistant of the Orchestral Studies Program at the Frost School of Music, and Managing Director of JSGS Publishing. On the keyboard, he has played side-by-side with the Cleveland Orchestra, is a concerto soloist, leads Baroque ensembles from the bench, and is an avid chamber musician. He has also been a Young Artist of the Cleveland Orchestra Kent/Blossom Music Festival, Conducting Fellow at the Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music, and served as Assistant Conductor of the Palm Beach Symphony.
Yun’s involvements at the University of Miami have led to two full opera productions, world premieres of compositions, children’s concerts, and interdisciplinary collaborations. Yun is also the Vice-Chair / Teaching Assistant and Graduate Student Liaison of the Music Instrumental Performance Department’s Student Advisory Council. Recently, Yun was assistant music director and audio producer for an Emmy-nominated live recording of Beethoven’s 9th Symphony, and a presentation of Mussorgsky’s “Pictures at an Exhibition.”
Currently in his final year in a Doctor of Musical Arts program, Yun has conducted for and received mentorship from renowned conductors, including Gerard Schwarz, Cristian Macelaru, Larry Rachleff, Don Schleicher, and Miguel Harth-Bedoya.
