Qianran Gao

Qianran Gao is a sought-after pianist simultaneously navigating both solo, collaborative worlds. Her recent highlights include the collaboration with the University of Minnesota Symphonic Band, Boston Conservatory at Berklee Orchestra, and Virtuosi Brunenses Orchestra. She is currently on teaching assistantship as a collaborative pianist at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities, where she regularly works with orchestra, opera theater, and singers. She has served as a former chorus pianist in MIT CCCS, International Choir of Guangzhou, and New Voice Choir of South China Agricultural University. 

Qianran appears on the stages throughout the United States, China, and Italy. Her achievements include the Best Performance Award in the German Irmler Piano Contest and second place in the Brandenburg International Music Competition. She performed in venues, such as Ted Mann Concert Hall, Jordan Hall, Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, Oratorio Santa Cecilia, Guangzhou Opera House, Canton Tower, etc.

Qianran received her Bachelor‘s degree in Musicology from South China Agricultural University, where she studied with Ni Ye, and additional studies with Oleh Pavlov. She held a master’s degree in Piano Performance and a one-year in advanced studies in Collaborative Piano from Boston Conservatory at Berklee, where she studied with Aleksandr Poliykov and Jessica Shinn. She is now obtaining the Doctoral of Musical Arts in Collaborative Piano and Coaching, under the guidance of Timothy Lovelace.

Throughout high school and college, Susannah was an active competitor in the NATS competitions, often winning state-wide and regionally, and in 2018, she won she won first place for Junior/Senior College Women at the national competition. Other opera credits include Alcina (Alcina, UNC Opera), Dido (Dido and Aeneas, UNC Opera), and Zerlina (Don Giovanni, International Young Artists’ Project). Future performances will include Il primo amore by Marianna Martines and the role of Euridice from Gluck’s Orfeo ed Euridice, both with the Chamber Orchestra of the Triangle.