Yuan-Qing Yu joined the Chicago Symphony Orchestra in 1995. A year later, Daniel Barenboim appointed her assistant concertmaster.
An international award-winning violinist, Yuan-Qing leads an active life in music as a soloist, chamber musician, teacher and advocate of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.
A native of Shanghai, Yuan-Qing began playing the violin at age 6 and graduated with highest distinction from the Shanghai Conservatory of Music. At age 17, she won the Chinese Nationwide Violin Competition. The following year, she captured second prize at the world-renowned Menuhin International Violin Competition in England. She was awarded the grand prize in the Holland Music Sessions World Concert Tour Competition two years later. Yuan-Qing also took the third grand prize in the Jacques Thibaud International Competition in Paris, and a special prize for her outstanding performance of the contemporary work written especially for the competition.
Yuan-Qing has given numerous critically acclaimed performances as featured soloist with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the Monte Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra, the Radio France Philharmonic, and the London City Orchestra. She has performed concerti under the direction of well-known musicians such as Christoph von Dohnányi, Sir Yehudi Menuhin, Marek Janowski, and James DePreist.
Yuan-Qing has appeared in recitals throughout the U.S. and Europe. Locally, she is a regular guest soloist in many venues, including "WFMT Live from Studio One," Dame Myra Hess Memorial Concert Series, Norton Concert Series, and Peninsula Music Festival in Door County.
Yuan-Qing has great enthusiasm for contemporary music. She gave the Chicago premier of Pierre Boulez's Anthèmes 2 for violin solo – an extremely challenging piece. Her performance won such high praise from both Maestro Boulez and the critics in Chicago, Boulez and Barneboim invited Yuan-Qing to perform this work in Berlin as part of the grand celebration concert for Maestro Boulez's 80th birthday.
Besides playing solo, Yuan-Qing is an active chamber musician. She has collaborated with Daniel Barenboim, Pinchas Zukerman, Menahem Pressler, Michael Tree, Gary Hoffman, and Yo-Yo Ma. Yuan-Qing is a founding member of the Sebastian Quartet. She also performs with a number of chamber groups including the Rembrandt Chamber Players, the CSO Chamber Soloists. She can be seen regularly at the Rush Hour Concerts at St. James Cathedral and at the Winter Music Festival at Northwestern University. In a typical year, Yuan-Qing gives more than fifteen performances each year throughout the Chicago area. Her performances have often been broadcasted by WFMT.
Yuan-Qing shares her love for the art of violin playing with students throughout Chicago. As a member of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Yuan-Qing recognizes the importance of building patrons' familiarity with the CSO and exposing young students to classical music. She has offered her services as a performer, teacher, and interviewee during the CSO's Symphonython. She has donated her services to church and community music-education programs. She has also enjoyed performing in CSO-sponsored events for patrons and school concerts.
Prior to joining the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Yuan-Qing earned an Artist Certificate in violin and a master of music degree from Southern Methodist University.