Displaying profound musical insight and dazzling technique, Chinese American pianist Qingqing Ye strives to embed his infectious passion and magnetic personality into his interpretation of classic piano repertoire. Critics have hailed his performance for "capturing the listeners with drama and beauty through the effortless technique and sincere personal communication," (Asian American Times) and "maturity beyond his years with confidence and musical expression." (The Lima News)
At 16, Qingqing made his orchestral debut in Calgary's Jack Singer Concert Hall in Canada with the "Morningside Music Bridge" orchestra. He has since extended his concert career globally to prestigious venues in many major cities in China and the United States, including Hong Kong, Shanghai, Chengdu, Chongqing, Chicago, Phoenix, Portland. He received an invitation to perform at Bowdoin International Music Festival in Maine, the Masterworks International Music Festival in Indiana, and the Portland International Piano Festival.
Qingqing's live and studio recordings, including Chopin's concertos and the Yellow River Piano Concerto, have been broadcast by KBAQ-FM, WFMT in Chicago, WCLV in Cleveland, iRadio FM 95.5 5, KKBOX PODCAST, Chongqing Television, and Sichuan Radio and Television. He was a featured artist invited to record a Chopin Etude and Ballade for the composer's Bicentennial celebration in Chicago. Qingqing's musical journey and insights also have been highlighted by interviews in Images Arizona Magazine, Chongqing Evening Daily, Piano Artistry Magazine, Arizona Chinese News, KTAR News, and ABC15.
Since becoming the Artist-in-Residence for the Scottsdale Philharmonic in Arizona in 2012, Qingqing has established himself as one of Arizona's most productive and celebrated concert artists in the last decade. His solo performances have been heard in the valley's most prestigious venues, including the Tempe Center for The Arts, Ikeda Theater at Mesa Arts Center, Chandler Center for the Arts, and Scottsdale Center for The Performing Arts. He has performed over a dozen major piano concertos and numerous important keyboard works with different orchestras for sold-out concerts. In the 2023-2024 season, he is scheduled to perform Mozart's Piano Concerto K. 488 and Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 4.
While adventuring on the concert stage, Qingqing has never slowed his pace nurturing and inspiring the younger generation. His masterclasses highlighting such topics as "Fighting Stage Fright" and "Smart Repertoire Choice" have benefited students in several prestigious universities in China, including Sichuan Conservatory of Music, Shanghai Conservatory of Music, Chongqing Normal University, and Beifang (North) University of Nationalities. He presides over one of the most prominent piano studios in Arizona, utilizing Yamaha's pioneering Disklavier technology with great success. His pupils have won top prizes in state and international competitions. Many of them have decided to continue their music careers in universities like San Francisco Conservatory, Peabody Conservatory of Music, Pennsylvania State University, and Oklahoma State University.
As a recording artist, his debut CD album "40 Piano Classics for Youth," recorded on Yamaha's eminent C7 grand piano, has sold tens of thousands of copies globally under CRC Label China and was redistributed on Amazon and iTunes in 2016. Many selections in the album were recorded by a concert pianist for the first time. In 2018, as a part of his DMA degree project, he released an album featuring the newest piano solo works of acclaimed Russian composer Nikolai Kapustin that had never before been professionally recorded. His recent release, "From Joplin to Kapustin," has been distributed globally on various platforms.
He was never a fan of competitions, but winning prizes certainly helped Qingqing retain his spotlight on the center stage. Major honors include: first prize winner of the Concerto Competition at the Masterworks International Music Festival in Indiana; first prize winner at the Lima Young Artists Piano Competition in Ohio; third prize winner of the VIII International Piano Competition at Smederevo, Serbia; second prize of the Concerto Category at the Second National Piano Competition for Chinese Works, Hong Kong; winner of the Chinese region for the young artists group of Gina Bachauer International Piano Competition in Shanghai; and winner of the First National Scholarship for Young Promising Chinese Pianists awarded by YAMAHA music foundation in China.
In recent years, Qingqing has expanded his interests beyond Classical music. He has often appeared in the video production by YouTube sensation and film maker Zach King. In 2020, he become an active member of the National Auto Sport Association, attending autocross events, and presently a level 2 high-performance car driver in HPDE category.
Qingqing began his piano training at the age of four. He received his diploma from Sichuan Conservatory of Music (Pre-College) under Hanguo Yang. He holds degrees in piano performance from Bowling Green State University (BM), Northwestern University (MM), and Arizona State University (DMA) with Maxim Mogilevsky, Alan Chow, and Walter Cosand. His other mentors include Lee Kum-Sing and Hung-Kuan Chen.
Qingqing is currently serving as an adjunct professor of piano at South Mountain Community College and founder of Dragonfly Arts Academy in Arizona.
Dr. Qingqing Ye is a Yamaha Artist.
