Violinist Jiaqi Yu started playing violin when she was four years old in Changchun, China. When she was 12, her teacher recommended her audition to the Central Conservatory of Music Middle School, where she spent six years of middle and high school. At age 19, Ms. Yu earned a full scholarship to Oberlin College and Conservatory to study with Milan Vitek. She has also studied with Grammy-award-winning violinist Sibbi Bernhardsson after Milan Vitek was retired from Oberlin.
Ms. Yu has performed as concertmaster and principal player for some of the top institutions in the world, including Eastman Musica Nova, Oberlin Conservatory Chamber Orchestra, Oberlin Orchestra, Oberlin Contemporary Music Ensemble, NYO- China Orchestra, and China Youth Orchestra. She traveled with the orchestra worldwide, including Mainland China, Hongkong, Macau, Taiwan, South Korea, the Czech Republic, and the United States. Ms. Yu has also played a lead role as a principal musician in distinguished productions, including concertmaster of the world premiere of Dance Mobile by 2000 Ernst von Siemens Music Prize-winner Augusta Read Thomas during the Eastman School of Music Centennial celebration. Ms. Yu is pursuing her master’s degree at Eastman School of Music with Professor Yoo Jin Jang.