Alexander Yau (piano)

Alexander Yau, an eminent young Australian pianist, has developed himself as a versatile musician incorporating his many musical talents as a chamber musician, vocalist, conductor and composer. 

As a soloist, he has performed with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Queensland Symphony Orchestra and SBS Youth Orchestra in Rachmaninov’s first three concerti, as well as the mighty Brahms Concerto no.2 with the Sydney Conservatorium Orchestra. In 2020, he founded his own chamber orchestra and conducted Mozart’s Concerto no. 23 from the piano in its inaugural concert. He was awarded top prizes at the Hastings International Piano Concerto Competition, Australian International Chopin Piano Competition, Lev Vlassenko Competition, Australian National Piano Award and the Sydney Kawai Piano Scholarship.

He has given solo and chamber performances at the Canberra International Music Festival in Australia, FOCUS Festival in New York, International Mendelssohn Akademie in Leipzig, Villa Reale in Italy, Polish Embassy of Australia, City Recital Hall Angel’s Place, Troldhaugen in Norway, Australian Pavilion at Shanghai Expo and Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Centre in New York. This year he released his first album in collaboration with clarinettist Deborah de Graff, featuring his own compositions and works by other Australian composers. 

Alexander obtained his Masters degree at the Juilliard School studying under prof. Matti Raekallio. He now holds the role of collaborative piano staff at the Sydney Conservatorium of music and music staff on part-time contract with Opera Australia. He will be working as an assistant conductor for Madame Butterfly on the Sydney Harbour production in 2023.