Irene Gao

Irene's Story

Praised by American composer Timothy Brown for her “heartfelt approach”, and “unique sensitivity and command” that showcase “maturity beyond her years”, Irene Gao is an 8-year-old First Prize winner in numerous international piano competitions, including the Chicago International Music Competition, Pacific Northwest Piano Competition, The Royal International Piano Competition, Vienna Classical Music Competition (2023 & 2024), Vienna Virtuoso Festival, Geneva Junior Music Competition, WPTA Singapore International Competition (platinum 2024 & gold 2022), Franz Liszt Center Competition, US New Star International Competition & US Open Music Competition in San Francisco Bay Area, Music Legacy Open Music competition in Bay Area, San Francisco Innovative Music Competition, Charleston International Music Competition, Crescendo International Music Competitions, and American Protege International Competition, among many others. Irene has been invited to The Juilliard School to participate in masterclasses with esteemed professors, including Prof. Jerome Lowenthal, Prof. Hung-Kuan Chen, Prof. Aaron Wunsch, and Prof. Mika Sasaki.

Irene embarked on her piano journey under the expert guidance of Dr. Qian Yin at age 4. Since then, her passion for classical music has flourished, leading her to perform solo in prestigious venues worldwide. These include the Musikverein and Mozarthaus in Vienna, Carnegie Hall in New York, John Knowles Paine Concert Hall at Harvard University, Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music in Singapore, and Benaroya Hall in Seattle. 

As a young musician, Irene is deeply committed to the power of music to inspire and uplift communities. She actively uses her talents for meaningful causes, performing at charity events and benefit concerts. In summer 2024, she performed at the United Nations Headquarters to promote positive societal impacts through music.

Beyond her musical pursuits, Irene is an avid writer who has won writing competitions and published two books. She is also recognized as a young scholar by the Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth.