Yao-Yu Wu

"Wu delivered the most brilliant finale; his remarkably elegant and refined

gestures galvanized the orchestra in an electric and dancing Firebird... If the

philosophy of the competition is to reward a 'natural talent,' the choice is

indisputable, as Wu’s potential is enormous." — Le Figaro

A conductor of profound musicality and technical precision, Yao-Yu Wu gained international recognition at the age of twenty-four when he became the youngest triple laureate—winning First Prize, Orchestra Prize, and Audience Prize—at the Besançon International Conducting Competition at that time. This early breakthrough was reaffirmed in 2023 at the Hong Kong International Conducting Competition, where he was awarded the Second Prize along with the Audience Prize and the Prize for Best Interpretation of the Commissioned Work, further establishing his presence on the international stage.

Wu currently serves as Resident Conductor of the Kaohsiung Symphony Orchestra (KSO). In this music director-level capacity, he is responsible for the orchestra’s artistic planning, programming, and long-term development, significantly elevating the ensemble’s technical and artistic profile. His commitment to expanding the repertoire is evidenced by his leadership of significant premieres, including the Asian premiere of Wynton Marsalis’s Swing Symphony and the Taiwan premiere of Fazıl Say’s Cello Concerto Never Give Up with Camille Thomas. He previously served as Associate Conductor of the Taiwan Philharmonic (National Symphony Orchestra) and held the position of Music Director and Principal Conductor of the Taipei Philharmonic Youth Orchestra.

Wu has proven his mettle in high-pressure substitutions, having successfully replaced conductors such as Alexander Liebreich with the Hong Kong Sinfonietta, as well as Gábor Venzago and Martin Sieghart with the Taiwan Philharmonic (NSO). His international experience includes collaborations with the Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra, Orchestre National Bordeaux Aquitaine, Orchestre National de Lorraine, and the St. Petersburg Symphony Orchestra. In France, he also led a regional tour with the

Orchestre National des Pays de la Loire.

In Asia, Wu maintains a long-standing and frequent collaboration with the Taiwan Philharmonic (NSO), appearing regularly as a trusted guest conductor. A highlight of this partnership was leading the orchestra at the 2023 City of Roses Fukuyama International Music Festival in Japan. He is equally active with all other major Taiwanese ensembles, including the National Taiwan Symphony Orchestra (NTSO) and Taipei Symphony Orchestra (TSO), while continuing to guest conduct with the Hong Kong Sinfonietta, Macao

Orchestra, and Kobe City Chamber Orchestra.

An exceptionally versatile artist, Wu has collaborated with a distinguished roster of soloists including Lang Lang, Nemanja Radulović, Daniel Müller-Schott, Ilya Gringolts, Alexei Volodin, Makoto Ozone, Dmitry Masleev, Cho-Liang Lin, Kit Armstrong, and Tzimon Barto. His 2026 season features highly anticipated collaborations with Rudolf Buchbinder, Stephen Hough, Konstantin Lifschitz, and Kerson Leong.

In the operatic pit, Wu’s recent productions include Puccini’s Tosca (2024) with Stephen Costello, Aleksey Bogdanov, and Laura Wilde, and Verdi’s Rigoletto (2025) with baritoneAlfredo Daza in the title role. His 2025/26 season features a new production of Puccini’s La bohème. Beyond the core classical repertoire, he is officially certified by Warner Bros. to conduct the Harry Potter Film Concert Series. His discography features the album Silvergrass (New World Records), a collection of works by Shih-Hui Chen recorded with pipa virtuoso Wu Man and cellist Wen-Sinn Yang.

Wu was named "Musician of the Year" by PAR Performing Arts Review in 2013. He received his musical training at the Taipei National University of the Arts and the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna (MDW). In 2026, he will lead the Kaohsiung Symphony Orchestra on a milestone tour of Japan.