Yunfeng Yao is the principal bassoon player at the Ningbo Symphony Orchestra. Yao began learning the bassoon at the age of 12 and was admitted to the high school affiliated to China’s Central Conservatory of Music (CCM) with the highest grades in his cohort, where he studied under renowned bassoon educator Zhu Jun. Yao won many merit scholarships in high school and was the principal bassoon player of the China Youth Orchestra. In 2011, he was admitted to the Oberlin Conservatory of Music with a full scholarship, where he studied under George Sakakeeny and completed a double degree program, earning an artist diploma and a Bachelor’s degree. In 2015, Yao was accepted by a Master’s program at the Northwestern Bienen School of Music with a scholarship, where he trained under David McGill, former principal bassoon player of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. In 2016, Yao joined the Chicago Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra. During his time in the US, Yao performed at the Aspen Music Festival, the Round Top Festival Institute, and many other world-class music festivals. Yao joined the Ningbo Symphony Orchestra in 2017. He is also an acclaimed bassoon teacher; many of his students have gone on to be accepted by the CCM, Zhejiang Conservatory of Music, and other top music schools.