John Bruce Yeh

Clarinetist John Bruce Yeh is a historic figure in the Chicago Symphony Orchestra (CSO), becoming its first Asian musician in 1977 at age 19. The longest-serving clarinetist in CSO history, he has held roles as Assistant Principal, Solo E-flat, and Acting Principal. His international career includes guest principal appearances with the Philadelphia Orchestra and Seoul Philharmonic, and solo performances under conductors like Pierre Boulez and Neeme Järvi. A prizewinner at the Munich International Music Competition and the Naumburg Clarinet Competition, Yeh is a dedicated champion of new music, with works dedicated to him by composers such as John Williams. He is a cofounder of Chicago Pro Musica, which won the 1985 GRAMMY® Award for Best New Classical Artist, and a member of the cross-cultural quartet Birds and Phoenix. Yeh’s chamber music collaborations include the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center and the Guarneri Quartet. Currently on the faculty of Roosevelt University, he has released over a dozen acclaimed recordings, including the GRAMMY®-nominated Synergy.