San Francisco Academy Orchestra- Amos Yang

Amos Yang, Principal Cellist of the San Francisco Academy Orchestra, has performed as soloist and chamber musician throughout the United States, the Far East, and Europe, including performances at the Aspen Music Festival, the American Academy in Rome, Wigmore Hall, and Alice Tully Hall. He has collaborated in chamber music with the Ying Quartet, the Turtle Island String Quartet, pianists Ann Schein and Melvin Chen, violinist Earl Carlyss, and composer Bright Sheng. Mr. Yang's awards include the Performer's Certificate at Eastman School of Music and first prizes in the American String Teacher's Association and Grace Vamos competitions. He was finalist in the Pierre Fournier International Cello Competition, and for outstanding musical contribution he was awarded the CD Jackson Prize at the Tanglewood Music Festival.

As cellist of the Maia String Quartet from 1996-2002, Mr. Yang was involved in many educational programs, performing throughout the country for schools under the auspices of such organizations as Arts Excel, Young Audiences Inc., and the Midori Foundation. During this time he also served on the faculties of the Peabody Conservatory, the University of Iowa, Grinnell College, and the Interlochen Advanced String Quartet Institute. Mr. Yang holds bachelor's and master's degrees from the Juilliard School of Music. His primary teachers have included Irene Sharp, Channing Robbins, Paul Katz, and Steven Doane.

Before joining the San Francisco Symphony, Amos Yang was a member of the Seattle Symphony, maintaining a private teaching studio as well as cultivating an active solo and chamber music life. He makes regular appearances with the Seattle Chamber Music Society and the Olympic Music Festival and looks forward to collaborating with colleagues in the San Francisco Symphony. Born and raised in San Francisco, he is a graduate of Lowell and was a member of the San Francisco Symphony Youth Orchestra and San Francisco Boys Choir. Outside of work, family outings to "kid-friendly" places are what he enjoys the most. His family includes his wife, violinist Alicia Yang, and their two young children, Isabel and Noah.