Concert Star International Classical Music San Francisco Division
Official Regional Competition
The Concert Star San Francisco Regional Competition is an official regional qualifying event of the Concert Star International Classical Music Competition. Outstanding participants may be invited to advance to the International Finals, presented annually at Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall in New York City.
Unlike the Online Division, the Los Angeles Regional Competition offers a live performance experience before an internationally distinguished jury, providing participants with direct artistic feedback and valuable educational opportunities in a professional concert setting.
Jury Member
Jiyuan Yang is an accomplished violinist, orchestral musician, and dedicated educator. He has performed with the Wichita Symphony Orchestra and the Topeka Symphony Orchestra, and has appeared with the University of Kansas Symphony Orchestra, Temple University Symphony Orchestra, and Xinghai Symphony Orchestra under distinguished conductors, including Kensho Watanabe.
As both a soloist and chamber musician, Yang has presented numerous solo recitals and chamber performances at venues including Swarthout Recital Hall, Rock Hall, and the Lied Center of Kansas. He has also appeared as a featured soloist in Bach cantatas and has performed in masterclasses with internationally renowned artists, including Stephanie Chase, Oleg Pokhanovski, the Takács Quartet, and the Dover Quartet.
As an educator, Yang is committed to developing both technical excellence and artistic expression, inspiring students through individualized instruction and comprehensive musical training.
Dr. Mingfu Han is an international Concert pianist, adjudicator, artistic producer, and arts leader. He is the President of the International Classical Music Alliance (ICMA) and Founder of Manus Label. Recognized for his leadership in classical music performance and education, Dr. Han has served as adjudicator for prestigious competitions in the United States, including events at Carnegie Hall. In addition to his performance career, he actively promotes international artistic exchange through festivals, masterclasses, and recording projects across the United States, Europe, and Asia. He earned his Doctor of Musical Arts in Piano Performance from the University of Kansas School of Music and is committed to cultivating artistic integrity, technical excellence, and musical individuality in young artists.
Piaoru Li graduated from the Middle School Affiliated to the Shanghai Conservatory of Music and the New England Conservatory. She studied with Professors Luo Xiao, Yang Yunlin, Bruce Brubaker, and Meng-Chieh Liu.
An award-winning pianist, she has earned top prizes in major competitions, including the Steinway National Youth Piano Competition, Xinghai National Youth and Children’s Piano Competition, and the Metropolitan International Piano Competition. She has also received the Yamaha Music Scholarship and the Niu Ende Piano Scholarship.
Piaoru has performed at prestigious venues including Carnegie Hall, the National Centre for the Performing Arts, Shanghai Concert Hall, and Jordan Hall. In teaching, she combines individualized instruction with systematic training, and many of her students have won major competitions and gained admission to leading conservatories and universities.
Dr. Dora Yuru Jin is a pianist, educator, scholar, and collaborative artist. She holds the Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Piano Performance from the University of Kansas and previously studied at the Mannes School of Music and Wesleyan College. Her research focuses on Clara Schumann, collaborative pianism, nineteenth-century performance practice, and piano pedagogy.
An award-winning pianist, Dr. Jin has received honors including the Orbifold Global Music Festival Young Artist Fellowship and prizes in the American Protégé International Music Talent Competition and the Classical Viennese Festival International Competition. She has performed as a soloist, collaborative pianist, and lecturer at venues including Carnegie Hall, the Lied Center of Kansas, and Steinway venues throughout the United States and Asia.
As an educator, Dr. Jin combines artistic excellence with thoughtful pedagogy. Her students have earned distinctions in ABRSM examinations, received awards in international competitions, and gained admission to leading music schools and university programs.
Dr. Ru Huang is a soprano, vocal educator, arts leader, and music education innovator. She currently serves as Lecturer of Voice at the University of California, Berkeley, where she teaches vocal performance and mentors emerging singers in both classical and contemporary styles. She holds the Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Vocal Performance and Literature from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
As a performer, Dr. Huang has appeared with organizations including Opera San José, Stanford University, the Aspen Music Festival, USC Thornton Opera, and Lyric Theatre at Illinois. Her repertoire includes leading operatic roles as well as major concert works such as Mozart’s Requiem and Handel’s Messiah. She also serves as Vice President of the China Mainland Chapter of the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS).
As an educator, Dr. Huang is committed to developing confident, expressive singers through individualized instruction. Her students have received awards in national and international competitions, performed leading roles, and gained admission to leading collegiate music programs.