Taiwanese violinist Dr. Yu-Wei Hsiao received his MM in violin performance from Mannes School of Music, and his doctorate in violin performance (DMA) at Rutgers University. Dr. Hsiao is currently the violinist of Berkshire Opera Festival. In 2024, Dr. Hsiao was the grant panelist for New York Foundation for the Arts and Flushing Town Hall. In 2023, Dr. Hsiao was the grantee of Flushing Town Hall Arts Grants. In 2015, Dr. Hsiao received scholarship from Bowdoin International Music Festival, and received a fellowship from the Miami Music Festival (where he served as a concertmaster) in 2017. Besides violin, Dr. Hsiao also received 15 years of classical piano training and has performed as a pianist at multiple concerts.
Dr. Hsiao is currently teaching at Church Street School for Music and Art and Song of Songs. Having grown up in a family-run private music school in Taiwan, Dr. Hsiao developed a natural affinity for musical teaching. Dr. Hsiao has taught classical violin and piano for 17 years, and enjoys working with students of all ages. In Dr. Hsiao’s teaching, he not only improves students’ weaknesses, but also identifies and amplifies their strengths, guiding students at their own pace. Music theory, rhythm training, ear training, sight-reading and singing are emphasized during lessons and classes. In 2017, Dr. Hsiao taught secondary lessons at the Music Department of Rutgers University. Dr. Hsiao also has experience in bilingual teaching, in Mandarin and English. Dr. Hsiao became the teacher for Bilingual Birdies in 2022, and has taught 15 preschools.
In addition to Dr. Hsiao’s experience with classical violin, his crossover abilities have led him to featured performances with a variety of artists in such groups/shows as Broadway in Bryant Park by iHeart Radio, the Weill Cornell Jazz Band, Battery Dance, Queensboro Dance Festival, Queens Pride, the Taiwanese television program “Super Taste”, Taiwanese singer A-Lin ’s world concert tour, Circle in the Square Theatre School, New York Fashion Week Fashion Show, Queensboro Dance Festival, Booking Dance Festival NYC at Lincoln Center, and Gallery Players; in such ceremonies as LuminoCity Festival at Randall’s Island – opening ceremony, and Empty Sky Memorial Remembrance – Commemorating the 20th anniversary of those lost in 9/11 attacks, among many others. Dr. Hsiao was the Emergence Artist of Culture Lab LIC in 2022 and produced and organized the sold-out shows “Islanders – 寶島慢播”. By invitation of Gibney Dance Company, in 2024 “Islanders – 寶島慢播” will be showcased at Gibney Theater in New York City.
You can find Yu-Wei’s 2024 Baroque Music Competition violin performance here.