John Yao - Composer, Trombonist, Educator

For almost twenty years, John Yao has been honing his talents as a trombonist, composer and arranger, and cementing his place on the New York City jazz scene. Yao’s lyrical soloing and expressive, round tone, combined with his relentless drive to push the boundaries of harmony and rhythm, have established him as a unique and forward-thinking jazz talent. Yao has earned wide acclaim. In April 2025 he was appointed to the 100th class of Guggenheim Fellows in the field of Music Composition. In 2023, Yao earned a place in both the Rising Star Trombone and Rising Star Big Band categories in the DownBeat Critics Poll.  Masterfully leading and composing the music for both his large and small ensembles, Yao has released five albums as a leader. Yao serves as Assistant Professor of Trombone at Queens College and as Adjunct Professor of Music at Molloy University. He is an XO Brass Clinician and active guest artist and soloist at colleges and universities nationwide and internationally.