Yi Zhao

Born in Henan, China, violinist Yi Zhao joined the Minnesota Orchestra in 2023 after winning a position in the first violin section. During the 2024–25 season, she served as Principal Second Violin, and in December 2025 made her Minnesota Orchestra solo debut in Haydn’s Sinfonia Concertante. An active presence throughout the Twin Cities, Zhao also appears regularly as a soloist with the Kenwood Symphony and performs chamber music with the Ladyslipper Ensemble and the Bakken Ensemble.

Before joining the Minnesota Orchestra, Zhao served for nine seasons as Assistant Concertmaster of the Colorado Symphony (2014–2023). During her tenure in Colorado, she appeared frequently as a soloist with regional orchestras and was featured by organizations including Englewood Arts, the Walden Chamber Music Society in Salida, and the Epic Series in Colorado Springs.

A sought-after festival musician, Zhao has been a regular artist at the Grand Teton Music Festival since 2017, serving in numerous leadership roles while maintaining an active chamber music schedule. In 2022, she joined the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra’s European tour at the invitation of Manfred Honeck, performing at many of the continent’s premier venues and festivals, including the Salzburg Festival. She was later appointed Concertmaster of the Sunriver Music Festival in Bend, Oregon, for the summer of 2023.

Earlier career highlights include appearances at the La Jolla Music Festival as a member of the Pegasus Trio alongside cellist Coleman Itzkoff and pianist Andrew Staupe. There, she shared the stage with distinguished artists including Cho-Liang Lin, Yefim Bronfman, Inon Barnatan, Alex Kerr, Desmond Hoebig, Richard O’Neill, Leonard Slatkin, and the Miró Quartet. Her international engagements have also included performances with Kiri Te Kanawa and José Carreras at Singapore’s Sun Festival, as well as recital appearances with Michael Kannen at Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall and the Peabody Institute.

Zhao earned her Bachelor of Music from the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music at the National University of Singapore, where she studied with Qian Zhou, before completing her Master of Music at Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music under the guidance of Cho- Liang Lin. She has also been a fellow at both the Tanglewood Music Center and the Music Academy of the West, where she worked with celebrated artists and teachers including Pamela Frank, Emanuel Ax, Glenn Dicterow, Jorja Fleezanis, and Kathleen Winkler.

Zhao performs on a 2019 violin by Collin Gallahue.