Xi Yang
Cello
Cellist Xi Yang, born in Guangdong, China, began her musical studies at the age of seven and received her early training in Shanghai. In 2005, she was admitted to the Music Middle School affiliated with the Shanghai Conservatory of Music. She later attended the Bard Conservatory of Music, where she completed its five-year double-degree program, studying cello with Peter Wiley while also pursuing Art History with Patricia Karetzky.
Yang continued her studies at the Thornton School of Music at the University of Southern California, earning her Master of Music degree under the guidance of Andrew Shulman. She was awarded full scholarships at both Bard Conservatory and USC. During her studies, she served as principal cellist of the Bard Conservatory Orchestra, the USC Thornton Symphony, and the Debut Chamber Orchestra.
A prizewinner in several international competitions, Yang has been recognized by the Chinese National Cello Competition, the Hudson Valley String Competition, and the Bard Conservatory Concerto Competition. She has appeared as a soloist with the Xiamen Philharmonic Orchestra and The Orchestra Now (TON) under the baton of Leon Botstein.
Yang has performed at major venues worldwide, including David Geffen Hall in New York and Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles, as well as leading concert halls in Berlin, Vienna, and Moscow. She has participated in distinguished festivals such as the Piatigorsky International Cello Festival and the Gulangyu International Piano Festival, and has been active in studio recording projects in Hollywood and Burbank.
She was a member of the cello section of the Alabama Symphony Orchestra from 2018 to 2026. She is currently a cellist with Pacific Symphony.