Yao-Yu Wu

“Wu gave the most brilliant performance in the final, his conducting—elegant and

meticulously considered—galvanizing the orchestra in a Firebird that was both

electrifying and dance-like. If the philosophy of the competition is to reward a ‘natural

gift’, the choice is indisputable, for Wu’s potential is enormous.”

— Le Figaro

Known for musical depth and technical precision, Yao-Yu Wu first drew major

international attention at the age of 24. In 2013, he became the youngest triple winner of the Besançon International Conducting Competition at the time—receiving First Prize,the Orchestra Prize, and the Audience Prize. This early breakthrough was reaffirmedin 2023 at the Hong Kong International Conducting Competition, where he received Second Prize, the Audience Prize, and the Prize for Best Interpretation of the Commissioned Work.

Wu currently serves as Resident Conductor of the Kaohsiung Symphony Orchestra

(KSO), in a role encompassing music-director-level artistic responsibilities. Through focused rehearsal work and thoughtfully curated programming, he has contributed to the orchestra’srising technical standard and artistic profile. Recent highlights include 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. In recent seasons, the orchestra has developed an increasingly unified technical and interpretive identity.

His international engagements span major orchestras across Europe and Asia, including collaborations with the St. Petersburg Symphony Orchestra, the Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra, the Orchestre National Bordeaux Aquitaine, and the Orchestre National de Lorraine. In France, he has also led the Orchestre National des Pays de la Loire on tour.

Wu is also recognized for his steadiness under pressure, having successfully stepped in at very short notice on multiple occasions. He replaced Alexander Liebreich with the Hong Kong Sinfonietta, and stepped in for Gábor Venzago and Martin Sieghart with the National Symphony Orchestra (Taiwan).

In Asia, Wu maintains a long-standing and close collaboration with the National Symphony Orchestra (Taiwan), including participation in the City of Roses Fukuyama International Music Festival in Japan (2023). He has likewise been invited by Taiwan’s major professionalorchestras, including the National Taiwan Symphony Orchestra (NTSO) and the Taipei Symphony Orchestra (TSO), and has appeared as guest conductor with the Hong Kong Sinfonietta and the Macao Orchestra.

A versatile musician, Wu has collaborated with outstanding soloists such as Lang Lang, Cho-Liang Lin, Daniel Müller-Schott, Nemanja Radulović, Ilya Gringolts, Dmitry Masleev, Kit Armstrong, Makoto Ozone, Alexei Volodin, Tzimon Barto, Giuseppe Gibboni, and Jehye Lee. In the 2026 season, he is also scheduled to work with Rudolf Buchbinder, Stephen Hough, Konstantin Lifschitz, and Kerson Leong.

In opera, his recent productions include Puccini’s Tosca (2024), with Stephen Costello,

Aleksey Bogdanov, and Laura Wilde, and Verdi’s Rigoletto (2025), featuring baritone Alfredo Daza in the title role. In the 2025/26 season, he will lead a new production of Puccini’s La Bohème, and continues to expand his operatic repertoire and production experience.

Beyond the core symphonic repertoire, Wu is an officially certified conductor for Warner Bros.’ Harry Potter Film Concert Series. His discography includes the album Silvergrass, featuring works by Shih-Hui Chen recorded with pipa virtuoso Wu Man and cellist Wen-Sinn Yang. In 2013, he was named “Musician of the Year” by Taiwan’s PAR Performing Arts magazine.

Wu studied 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 landmark Japan tour, while continuing to broaden his international collaborations and touring projects in the seasons ahead.