YaoGuang Zhai

YaoGuang Zhai is Principal Clarinet of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, clarinet faculty at the Curtis Institute of Music, and Associate Professor at Boston Conservatory at Berklee. He is the first Chinese-born clarinetist to hold a principal position in a major U.S. orchestra and to join the faculties of highly prestigious institutions such as Curtis and the Boston Conservatory. 

Since joining the BSO in 2016, Mr. Zhai has established himself as an internationally recognized soloist, chamber musician, and educator. He previously served as Associate Principal Clarinet of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra and Principal Clarinet of the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra, and has appeared as Guest Principal with the New York Philharmonic, Saint Louis Symphony, Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, and many others. 

As a soloist, Mr. Zhai has appeared with the Baltimore, Toronto, and Shanghai Symphony Orchestras, as well as the Victoria Symphony, Toronto Summer Music Festival Orchestra, Pacific Symphony, American Academy of Conducting Orchestra in Aspen, and the Stellenbosch International Chamber Music Festival Orchestra. In 2022, he was invited by the International Clarinet Association (ICA) to perform at the International Clarinet Festival in Reno, Nevada, where he presented Amanda Harberg’s Clarinet Concerto—adapted from her Sonata written for him—at the closing ceremony with the Reno Philharmonic. An avid chamber musician, he has performed at leading festivals worldwide, including Santa Fe, Stellenbosch, Hong Kong, Aspen, Angel Fire, Laguna Beach, and the Pacific Music Festival in Japan. 

Mr. Zhai serves on the faculty of the Curtis Institute of Music and is Associate Professor at Boston Conservatory at Berklee. He also teaches annually at the Interlochen Summer Music Camp and has participated in the Master Players Summer Music Festival, National Youth Orchestra of China (NYO-China), Stellenbosch International Chamber Music Festival, and Curtis Summer Music Camp. 

Born in China, Mr. Zhai began violin studies at age three before switching to clarinet at age ten. He entered the Central Conservatory of Music High School in Beijing at age twelve. In 

2003, he received a full scholarship to attend the Idyllwild Arts Academy and later entered the Curtis Institute of Music. After graduating from Curtis in 2009, he began his professional career as Principal Clarinet of the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra at the invitation of Music Director Long Yu. In 2011, he joined the Toronto Symphony Orchestra as Associate Principal Clarinet under the appointment of Peter Oundjian. In 2016, he was appointed Principal Clarinet of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra by Marin Alsop. 

While studying in the United States, Mr. Zhai won numerous competitions, including the Hellam, Blount-Slawson, Aspen, Spotlight, and Pacific Symphony competitions. His teachers included world-renowned clarinetists Yehuda Gilad, Donald Montanaro, Ricardo Morales, and Joaquin Valdepeñas.