Yuanyuan has been taking piano lessons since he was 10 years old. He started his piano lessons at Cary School of Music studying under John Hermann, and later went on to study with Florence Ko in his high school years. When Yuanyuan was 8th Grade, he won 1st place at the 2010 Young Artist Auditions held at William Peace University in Downtown Raleigh. He later went to the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, where he studied under Dr. John Salmon, and received his Bachelor of Arts in Music in May 2019. His experiences with all of his prior teachers enabled Yuanyuan to inherit their personalities, experiences, interactions, values and musical passions and to try them out on not only himself but anyone he enjoys teaching and working with.
Yuanyuan debuted at the Charleston International Music Competition in June of 2024, placing 3rd at the 19th and 18th Century, Contemporary and Romantic Music Competitions, and in 2025, also scored 3rd place in the 19th Century and Romantic Music Competitions.
Yuanyuan is currently a member of the Cary-Apex Piano Teachers Association, where he participates in festivals, recitals and other activities. Starting 2026, Yuanyuan joined the Music Teachers National Association, where he is currently pursuing his “Nationally Certified Teacher of Music” designation.
Watch Yuanyuan Ding perform La Fille Aux Cheveux de Lin by Claude Debussy on the piano for the 19th Century Music Competition 2024 as part of the Charleston International Music Competition.
Watch Yuanyuan Ding perform Sonata in C Minor Op. 13 “Pathetique” 2nd Movement by Ludwig Van Beethoven on the piano for the 18th Century Music Competition 2024 as part of the Charleston International Music Competition.
Watch Yuanyuan Ding perform River Flows in You by Yiruma on the piano for the 2024 Contemporary Music Competition as part of the Charleston International Music Competition.
Watch Yuanyuan Ding perform Lyric Pieces Op. 12 No. 1 “Arietta” by Edvard Grieg on the piano for the 2024 Romantic Music Competition as part of the Charleston International Music Competition.
Watch Yuanyuan Ding perform Kinderszenen Op. 15 No. 1 “Von Fremden Landern Und Menschen” by Robert Schumann on the piano for the 19th Century Music Competition 2025 as part of the Charleston International Music Competition.
Watch Yuanyuan Ding perform Kinderszenen Op. 15 No. 7 “Traumerei” by Robert Schumann on the piano for the 2025 Romantic Music Competition as part of the Charleston International Music Competition.
Watch Yuanyuan Ding perform Kinderszenen Op. 15 No. 13 “Der Dichter Spricht” by Robert Schumann on the piano for the 19th Century Music Competition 2026 as part of the Charleston International Music Competition.