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Yan Fang

Artist-in-Residence, International Piano Center (Xiamen)


TED Speaker

 
​G. Henle Verlag Pianist Partner

Yan Fang is an internationally acclaimed Chinese pianist whose artistry “captures the essence of the Golden Age of pianism” (Music Weekly).

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Hailed by Valery Gergiev as a talent that must “come back” to the Mariinsky after his 2025 debut—the first by a Chinese pianist in the orchestra’s season since Lang Lang—Fang has since sold-out concerts across Russia, Korea, Bulgaria, the United States, and Europe, collaborating with maestros such as Gergiev, Leonid Korchmar, Zaourbek Gugkaev, and Yuri Medianik.

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Praised by luminaries Sir Murray Perahia, Dang Thai Son, Jerome Lowenthal, and Boris Berman for his rare blend of poetic touch, formidable technique, and musical insight, he complements his stage success with philanthropic vision: the Fang Yan Charity Concert series has funded 160 reading corners for 7,000 rural Chinese children.

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The first pianist in eight years to earn the Artist Diploma at the Manhattan School of Music, Fang also holds degrees from Juilliard and the New England Conservatory, and his accolades include the 2025 Busan International Music Competition Grand Prize.

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Wherever his “keys unlock humanity,” audiences and critics alike recognize Yan Fang as one of the most promising artists of his generation.

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Top Orchestras & Maestro Endorsements

  • Mariinsky Symphony Orchestra debut (2025, Ravel Piano Concerto in G, conducted by Valery Gergiev).

    “Yan, Come back!” — Gergiev, written on the program after the concert.

  • Sold-out recitals across Moscow, St. Petersburg, Nizhny Novgorod, and Vladikavkaz (breaking records for Chinese pianists).

  • Collaborations with:

    • Mariinsky Philharmonic (Leonid Korchmar, Zaourbek Gugkaev)

    • Daegu Symphony Orchestra (Korea)

    • Pazardzhik Symphony Orchestra (Bulgaria)

    • Tyumen Philharmonic (Russia)

    • Chinese orchestras in Beijing, Xiamen, Zhejiang, Sichuan, Chongqing, Liaoning, and China-Russia Symphony.

He curated and conducted a full concert of Chinese works (Yellow River Piano Concerto, Ode to the Red Flag, Li Huanzhi Symphony No.1 Wind from the Sea) with the Tyumen Philharmonic, creating a sensation.

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Global Performances

  • Landmarks: Mariinsky Theatre Opera House & Concert Hall, Winter Palace/Hermitage, Moscow House of Culture, Lincoln Center Alice Tully Hall, Boston Symphony Hall, Jordan Hall, Columbia Lerner Hall, Orvis Auditorium (Hawai‘i), Teatro del Pavone & Sala del Notari (Italy), Fürstenried Palace (Munich), Warsaw Philharmonic Hall, Daegu City Hall (Korea), Shanghai Symphony Hall, Beijing City Library, Jiangsu Grand Theatre, Chengdu Concert Hall, Harbin Grand Theatre, Gulangyu Concert Hall, and many more.

  • Festivals: Daegu International Piano Festival, Winter Music Evenings (Bulgaria), Xiamen University International Music Festival, UNESCO-recognized recital at Gulangyu – The World Heritage Site.

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Artistic Philanthropy & Brand Partnerships

  • Fang Yan Charity Concerts (founded 2020): partnered with 21 companies across 11 industries, covered by 18 major media outlets, raising RMB 450,000 to build 160 book corners for 7,000 children.

  • Brand/media collaborations:

    • Golden Rooster & Hundred Flowers Film Festival

    • Xiamen city promotion film

    • Luxury brand partnerships with NIO, Waldorf Astoria Hotels, Trader Joe’s, China Merchants Shekou

    • Global Henle Partner (Germany’s G. Henle Verlag)

    • Promotional pianist for AI brand XiaoYeZi

  • Delivered a TEDx Talk: “18 Minutes: Classical Can Be Not So Far Away”.

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Academic Background & Teaching

  • Artist Diploma — Manhattan School of Music (studied with Yefim Bronfman)

  • Master’s — Juilliard (Jerome Lowenthal, Hung-Kuan Chen)

  • Bachelor’s — New England Conservatory (Alexander Korsantia)

  • Mentors include: Yin Cheng-zong, Sir Murray Perahia, Jean-Yves Thibaudet, Chen Shuhua, Li Weiming, Fang Ni, Wang Xiaoyu.

Appointments & Teaching:

  • 2024 — “Honorary Artist / Artist-in-Residence,” International Piano Center, Xiamen Institute of Technology.

  • Collaborated with international musicians (Zhou Mingsun, Choi Chung-lik, Kenneth Hamilton, Markus Groh, Roman Zaslavsky, Red Canzian, Abisal Gergiev).

  • Premiered National Arts Fund work Along the Songhua River.

  • Masterclasses: Sichuan Conservatory, Harbin Conservatory, Xiamen International Piano Center.

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Awards

  • Grand Prize – 2025 Busan International Music Competition

  • China Public Welfare Figure of the Year – 2019 (Dandangzhe Foundation)

  • First Prize – 2018 New England Conservatory Honors Competition

  • Gold Medal – 2010 International Chopin Piano Contest

  • Silver Medal – 2015 Steinway International Concerto Competition

  • First Prize & Special Distinction – 2012 Cheer Tainan International Music Competition

  • Silver Medal – 2010 Gulangyu National Youth Piano Competition

  • Third Prize – 2006 “KAWAI Cup” National Piano Competition

  • Competitor — Tchaikovsky International Piano Competition & Leeds International Piano Competition

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 Selected Praise

  • “Yan, Come Back!” — Valery Gergiev

  • “You are an Exceptionally Gifted Pianist!” — Boris Berman

  • “A mature and authoritative piano artist, uniting commanding pianism with imaginative and personal musicality.” — Jerome Lowenthal

  • “Possesses keen ear, rare poetic touch, wonderful balance of reason and emotion.” — Dang Thai Son

  • “Maturity beyond age, flawless technique, and exceptionally gifted musical sensibility.” — Sina News

  • “Capturing the essence of the Golden Age of pianism.” — Music Weekly

  • “Balances Slavic grandeur with poetic nuance… musical wisdom beyond his years.” — People’s Daily

  • “One of the most promising young Chinese pianists.” — Dr. Rostislac Yovchev

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