Conducting - Musical Direction - Singing
Yajie is a versatile young conductor, PhD researcher under the supervision of Dr Amy Blier-Carruthers at King’s College London, and anMPhil researcher under the supervision of Professor John Butt and Dr David McGuinness at the University of Glasgow. She has presented her research at the EPARM Conference (Thailand), the RMA/BFE Research Students' Conference (Cambridge), the Twelfth Biennial International Conference on Music Since 1900 (Birmingham), and Sphere of Singing (Glasgow).
During Yajie's undergraduate studies in Cardiff, she focused on vocal studies and composition while the pathway to becoming a conductor. She studied vocal performance with Pierre-Maurice Barlier (vocal tutor and French language coach of Cardiff University and RWCMD), conducting with Adrian Partington (artistic director of BBC NOW). Since 2019, Yajie has worked as a musical director at South China Normal University - College of Arts Choir, Cardiff University Bella Cantas, and Unison: Variety Singers. Currently, she is the music director of Pavilion Ensemble. In 2023, she is a Conducting Fellow with Cortona Sessions in Italy.
Yajie has a wealth of both choral and orchestral conducting experience across a wide range of repertoires. She has worked with various ensembles in workshops such as NEW Sinfonia, Royal Northern College of Music Orchestra, Derbyshire City & County Youth Wind Band, Gloucester Cathedral Choir (quintet), Royal Welsh College of Music Chamber Choir, and so forth. From conducting to composition to vocal facilitation, she has a detailed, systematic approach to every facet of her music, and is known for an optimistic, goal-oriented leadership presence that gives her fellow musicians confidence.
As a vocal soloist, Yajie has won a range of national and international vocal competitions in China. In Europe, she performs as the soloist at Point Art Troupe in prestigious venues such as Mairie du 13ème arrondissement de Paris, France. She is also a member of various top-quality choral ensembles in Britain, including the BBC Symphony Chorus, BBC National Chorus of Wales, Royal Scottish National Orchestra and Chorus, National Youth Choir of Scotland, and Edinburgh International Festival Chorus. As a choral singer, she was awarded the scholarship of Lanfine Choral Exhibitioner by the University of Glasgow Chapel Choir. Meanwhile, during her time at at UoG, she studied organ playing with Kevin Bowyer.
