Ian Chiao

About

Ian Chiao, a 19-year-old violinist from New Zealand, is a dedicated musician and third-year Bachelor of Music student at the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music, studying under Dr. Curt Thompson. Ian has performed internationally, touring Australia, Asia, and America, and has appeared with prestigious ensembles, including the Australian Youth Orchestra, Auckland Philharmonic, and Royal Philharmonic Melbourne. He has also served as concertmaster for the University of Melbourne Symphony and Philharmonic Orchestra, as well as the Geelong Symphony. As a chamber musician, Ian has collaborated with members of the Australian Chamber Orchestra, Australian String Quartet, Gewandhausorchester, Horszowski Trio, Daedalus Quartet, Kronos Quartet, American String Quartet, Houston Symphony, and Chicago Symphony. He participated in the 2023 and 2024 Mimir Music Festival in Texas and will attend the 2025 Portillo Music Festival in Chile. Ian performs on a 1916 Giachetti violin loan from the Chimei Museum Foundation of Taiwan and a Nürnberger bow from New Zealand’s Pettman Music Academy. He is also honoured to be the recipient of the 2023 Kate Flowers Memorial and Corinna D’Hage Mayer String Scholarships.