Yuja Wang is celebrated for her charismatic artistry, emotional honesty, and captivating stage presence. She has performed with the world’s most venerated conductors, musicians, and ensembles, and is renowned not only for her virtuosity, but her spontaneous and lively performances.

Recent performances include a play-direct tour of Europe and South America with the Mahler Chamber Orchestra, where she has been artist in residence, as well as her return to the United States where she is in residence with the New York Philharmonic. Her skill and charisma were demonstrated in a marathon Rachmaninoff performance at Carnegie Hall with the Philadelphia Orchestra, including all four of his concertos plus the Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini. In 2022, she gave the world premiere of Magnus Lindberg’s Piano Concerto No. 3 with the San Francisco Symphony.

Wang was born into a musical family and began studying the piano at the age of six. She received advanced training in Canada and at the Curtis Institute of Music with Gary Graffman. Her international breakthrough came in 2007, when she replaced Martha Argerich as soloist with the Boston Symphony. Two years later, she signed an exclusive contract with Deutsche Grammophon and has since established her place among the world’s leading artists, with a succession of critically acclaimed performances and albums. Her recordings have garnered multiple awards, including five Grammy nominations and her first Grammy win for Best Classical Instrumental Solo with her 2023 release The American Project. For this she also won an Opus Klassik award in the concerto category.

As a chamber musician, Wang has developed long-lasting partnerships with several leading artists. She recently embarked on an international duo recital tour with pianist Víkingur Ólafsson. In addition to tonight’s SF Symphony Opening Gala, she opens Carnegie Hall’s 2025–26 season next month. Wang made her San Francisco Symphony debut in February 2006 and became a Shenson Young Artist later that year. She will return to Davies Symphony Hall next April for a Great Performers Series concert with the Mahler Chamber Orchestra.