JIYU YAN

Jiyu is a cellist native to Austin, Texas. Currently about to enter his second year in his Music Studies program here at the Butler School of Music, Jiyu is very fortunate and privileged to have received the incredible mentorship that he has had from various music educators all throughout his life. He first picked up his cello at the age of five and has never looked back since. Previously under the guidance of Dr. Shu-Yi Scott, Jiyu currently studies cello under the tutelage of Joshua Gindele. His formative musical experiences include participating in the Austin Chamber Music Center and TMEA All-Region Orchestra, as well as in the McNeil High School Orchestra program, where he was section leader for 3 years. Throughout his childhood, he has loved getting his friends together to go around town playing chamber music at various places. Sure, it’s about the music and hard work, but it’s also about meeting new people and hanging out. Jiyu hopes that he can continue to do so, as well as facilitate that for others, for a long time. Every Child Can certified, trained in Cello Teaching Strategies, and Suzuki cello pedagogy certified up to the level of Unit 2, Jiyu knows that children are young people with their own autonomy and unique capabilities. He hopes that he can pass on the love and appreciation for music-making that his educators imparted on to him to all. Jiyu believes in the transformative power of collective creative action as being a part of the social activity that humans do together as a means of expressing ourselves and creating our world. He highly prioritizes social connections to other human beings, and sees music education as valuable component of what it takes to build stronger community relationships. In his free time, jiyu loves crafting, making his own clothes, cooking for his friends, gardening, hiking, and spending time out in nature.