About

Dr. Yongqi Lao is a Chinese-born cellist, music educator, and researcher based in Pasadena, California. She is dedicated to performance, education, and the exploration of Chinese folk traditions through Western string instruments.

As a performer, Yongqi gave the world premiere of Chen Yi’s Three Bagatelles from China West for cello and piano in 2025. She made her solo orchestral debut at the age of 18 and has participated in international music festivals, including the Saline Royale Academy and the Nice International Music Festival. She has performed in masterclasses for musicians such as Valentin Erben of the Alban Berg Quartet, Santiago Cañón-Valencia, Dariusz Skoraczewski of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, Nina Lee, and violinist Shmuel Ashkenasi. Her chamber music training has included work with the Brentano String Quartet and Brooklyn Rider.

Yongqi’s research focuses on adapting the folk music of Southwestern China for Western string instruments. Through her work, she seeks to

Music

As a cellist, I enjoy performing a wide range of repertoire, including solo cello works by Bach, as well as music from the 20th century and contemporary composers. I also love playing chamber music, whether in trios, quartets, quintets, or cello-piano sonatas, where I can connect with others through shared musical expression.

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