Yung-chiao Wei

Yung-chiao Wei is a Professor of Double Bass at Louisiana State University (LSU) School of Music, where she champions music education and community engagement. A celebrated performer and educator, she has overcome physical challenges to build a distinguished career, performing globally and mentoring students who excel in competitions like National YoungArts and Stulburg International String Competition.

• Education: Master’s (New England Conservatory), Bachelor’s with Performance Certificate (Eastman School of Music)

Her research and performance interests focus on double bass virtuosity, chamber music interpretation, and expanding accessibility in music education through initiatives like the Connect2Music Project, which provides free online peer mentoring for K-12 students. She has served as principal bassist in renowned orchestras and founded the Louisiana Bass Festival, now a global virtual event attracting participants from 18 countries.

Notable awards include the Louisiana Artists and Scholars Grant and LSU’s Tiger Athlete Foundation Teaching Award. Her students have achieved Grammy nominations and secured positions in universities and orchestras worldwide. Wei’s collaborations span artists like Leon Fleisher and institutions such as Eastman School of Music and Berlin University of the Arts.

She has commissioned innovative works like bass quartets for the Louisiana Bass Festival and released recordings of the Butterfly Lovers Violin Concerto and Brahms’ cello sonatas. Her teaching philosophy emphasizes connecting musical performance with social impact, as seen in her founding of a youth orchestra in Brazil to support underprivileged communities.