Meet Haocheng Yang | Violinist & Music Performer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Haocheng Yang and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Haocheng, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
I chose to pursue an artistic and creative career because music has always been the most natural way for me to express myself and connect with others. Playing the violin allows me to communicate emotions and ideas that words often cannot capture. I also believe that art has the power to inspire, to heal, and to bring people together across cultures. Choosing this path is not only about following my passion, but also about taking on the responsibility to share beauty, creativity, and meaning with the world.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My art is deeply rooted in my journey across China, Europe, and the United States. What sets me apart is that I combine rigorous classical training with cross-cultural perspectives and new performance practices. I’m most proud of presenting my own solo recitals in China and the U.S., and of being invited to perform and serve as a jury member at international competitions and festivals.

Professionally, it has not always been easy. Moving between countries meant adapting to new cultures, languages, and artistic environments. At times, it was challenging to balance performance, academic writing, and teaching, but those experiences taught me resilience and creativity. I learned that persistence and openness to different traditions can truly shape an artist.

Today, I’m pursuing my doctoral studies in performance while actively performing, teaching, and publishing research. I want the world to know that my brand is about more than just violin performance—it is about building bridges between cultures, showing how music can inspire, connect, and bring meaning to people’s lives across the globe.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If my best friend came to visit me in Leeds in the UK, I would want them to experience the city the way I do. On a nice day, we’d start with a walk along the riverside, just enjoying the scenery and having a good conversation. In the afternoon, I’d take them into Leeds city centre to wander around, watch the street performances, and stop for a coffee while soaking in the atmosphere. In the evening, the perfect way to end the day would be to attend a concert—Opera North is one of my favorites in Leeds, and their performances always leave a deep impression. Over the course of a week, we would explore more of the city’s cultural spots, try local restaurants, and really enjoy the mix of everyday life and vibrant music culture that makes Leeds special.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I would like to dedicate my shoutout to my parents and to the audiences who have supported me along the way. My parents have always stood by me on my artistic journey, giving me the strength and encouragement to keep moving forward. And every time I finish performing, I deeply treasure the applause from the audience—it reminds me why I chose this path and gives me the motivation to continue growing as an artist.

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/haocheng-yang-691a7b302

Image Credits
Photos of my personal Violin Recital