Xujing Yao is a clarinetist, chamber musician, and educator based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Originally from Guangzhou, China, she is currently pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Clarinet Performance at the University of Minnesota.
As a performer, Yao is passionate about collaborative music-making and contemporary repertoire. Her work spans solo, chamber, orchestral, and interdisciplinary settings, reflecting her artistic curiosity and commitment to meaningful human connection through music.
Yao is the founder and clarinetist of the DYNO Woodwind Quintet, an ensemble dedicated to fostering creativity, communication, and artistic excellence through chamber music. She has performed solo and chamber repertoire across the United States and China and brings extensive experience from chamber ensembles, orchestras, and pit productions.
Equally dedicated to education, Yao maintains an active teaching studio and works with students of diverse ages and backgrounds. Her teaching emphasizes technical development, musical expression, and helping each student cultivate an individual artistic voice.
Most recently, Yao participated in the Akropolis Chamber Music Institute, where she collaborated with fellow musicians and studied with internationally recognized artists and educators. This experience further deepened her commitment to chamber music as a space for creativity, connection, and lifelong learning.
In addition to performing and teaching, Yao is actively involved in arts leadership, concert promotion, and community engagement initiatives that expand access to meaningful musical experiences.