Strings Faculty
Education
Yan received his Bachelor of Music in Violin Performance from the College of Charleston in South Carolina and his Master of Music in Violin Performance from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM). In addition, Yan received the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra’s Diversity Fellowship and the Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra’s Fellowship, as well as his Suzuki Teacher Training in Violin Books 1 through 4 from the School for Strings in New York. He was also a student at the Aspen Music Festival and School in Colorado and Le Domaine Forget in Quebec, Canada.
Performance Experience
Yan has extensive experience as a soloist, chamber musician, and orchestral performer, having played with ensembles such as the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, San Diego Symphony, Columbus Symphony, Chautauqua Symphony, Charleston Symphony, Dayton Philharmonic, and the Chamber Orchestra of New York. In the greater DMV area, he regularly performs with the Annapolis Symphony Orchestra and the National Philharmonic. In addition to his classical work, Yan has performed and recorded as a band member with numerous independent artists across a wide range of non-classical genres, including hip-hop, country, rock, and bluegrass. As a founding member, violinist, and mandolinist of Shayna & the Catch, Yan toured extensively across the U.S. and performed at major music festivals, including SXSW, Summerfest, CMJ, and Times Square’s New Year’s Eve celebration.
Non-Levine Teaching Experience
Yan has taught middle school string ensemble and private violin lessons at the United Nations International School in New York City. As a Diversity Fellow with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, he led outreach and educational initiatives across the orchestra’s programs, most notably with MYCincinnati, an El Sistema–inspired program, where he taught private and group violin lessons, led rehearsals, and conducted the youth symphony orchestra. In addition, Yan has maintained a private violin studio since 2006.
Other Notable Experience
As a songwriter for Shayna & The Catch, Yan’s songs were featured on TV shows such as CSI: New York and The Real World NOLA, as well as commercials such as a Ford Edge international campaign.
Teaching Philosophy
Music is one of the most powerful forces in the world, with far-reaching social impact and a well-documented ability to foster positive change in both brain development and the human psyche. Everyone can benefit from exposure to music education. As a teacher, my goal is to support students of all ages and abilities in reaching their musical potential and achieving their personal goals, while cultivating a lifelong appreciation for music and the arts. I take a holistic approach to music education, incorporating music theory, ear training, and general musicianship alongside applied violin instruction.
My teaching emphasizes strong technical violin foundations, thoughtful and emotive interpretation, and creative exploration through improvisation and composition. I draw primarily from the rich, centuries-old standard violin repertoire and technical etudes, as well as modern methods such as the Suzuki Method. I also advocate for broadening the Western musical canon to include works by historically underrepresented groups. Most importantly, I recognize that no two students are alike; each individual deserves a personalized approach tailored to their unique mental and physical needs in order to thrive on their musical journey. To achieve this, it is essential to remain flexible, responsive, and open-minded as a teacher.
Other Interests
Outside of work, Yan loves skiing, hiking, traveling, cultural and gastronomical exploration, reading about scientific discoveries (especially astronomy), watching movies and TV shows, and playing video games.