Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Welcomes New Musician into the Orchestra

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Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Welcomes New Musician into the Orchestra

Monday 28 April 2025

The Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra is delighted to announce the appointment of violinist Joe Chu-Yu Yang.

Joe joins the Orchestra as Section Player, Second Violin. Originally from Taiwan, Joe began studying violin at age six under Ming-Hui Lin and later with Su-Lan Hsu, whose mentorship shaped his formative years. Joe went on to gain a First-Class Bachelor of Music degree at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire under the tutelage of Simon Smith. Joe is currently a PhD candidate at the Royal Academy of Music, where he obtained his master’s degree with DipRAM and Professional Diploma, as well as being a deputy lecturer for a BMus elective called “British Music and Culture”. His research focuses on the performance practice of violin repertoire pertaining to the English Pastoral School in the early to mid-20th century, under the supervision of Dr. Jonathan Clinch and legendary violinist/concertmaster Rodney Friend.

Joe is a passionate advocate for British music, he is the founder and director of the British Music Festival in Taiwan, which promotes British music abroad and fosters UK–Taiwan relations. In April, he released his first album, An English Pastoral, with the American pianist Eric McElroy by SOMM Recordings, which includes world premiere recordings of music by Ivor Gurney and Ian Venables.

An active orchestral musician, Joe freelances with numerous leading UK orchestras, including the London Philharmonic Orchestra, BBC National Orchestra of Wales, BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Royal Northern Sinfonia, Opera North, and the Scottish Chamber Orchestra.

On his appointment, Joe said: “I am absolutely delighted to be joining the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra as a Second Violinist! Having had the opportunity to perform with the Orchestra recently, I have been deeply inspired by the warmth, musicianship, and passion of my new colleagues. It is a real privilege to become part of such a historic and vibrant musical family, and I am very excited for this new chapter ahead.”

Peter Garden, Interim Chief Executive said: “On behalf of the entire Liverpool Philharmonic family, I am delighted to extend a warm welcome to Joe. We are thrilled to have him join us and it is clear his remarkable talent combined with his passion for music will be a wonderful addition to the Orchestra."

The Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra is currently rounding up this season with concerts including: Eurovision Classics, hosted by Mel Giedroyc (9 May); Mahler Symphony No.4, with soprano Sophie Bevan MBE and conductor Ryan Wigglesworth (15 June); The Liverpool Songbook, a concert celebrating Merseyside artists (28 Jun); and Verdi’s Requiem (12 July) with Chief Conductor Domingo Hindoyan and the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Choir. The 2025-26 season will be announced on Tuesday 13 May.