Pianist · Composer

Pianist Jiahao Han, a recipient of the Kayserburg Young Artist Award, is the sole pianist accepted into The Juilliard School’s prestigious Doctor of Musical Arts program in 2024, where he is under the tutelage of esteemed mentors Mr. Hung-Kuan Chen and Dr. Yoheved Kaplinsky.

Born in November 2000, Jiahao studied with Mr. Ting Zhou for more than a decade at Shanghai Music Primary and Middle School; his prodigious talent was evident early on when he dazzled audiences with his concerto debut with Shanghai Philharmonic Orchestra in 2010 and subsequently made his recital debut in Puigcerdà, Spain, in 2011. His exceptional abilities were further recognized when he became a recipient of the prestigious Artemisia Foundation scholarship in 2022 and actively participated in its enriching mentoring program. The same year, he was awarded a full fellowship to the renowned Aspen Music Festival, studying with Arie Vardi and Fabio Bidini for two months.

Jiahao has garnered acclaim on the international stage, earning Second Prize and the Best Performance of the Commissioned Work Prize at the 2025 Heida Hermanns International Piano Competition, Second Prize at the 2022 New York International Piano Competition, Third Prize at the 2017 "Jinji Lake" International Piano Competition, and Third Prize at the 2016 "Jeunesses International Music Competition Dinu Lipatti." In 2021, he received the Audience Prize at the International Beethoven Piano Competition Vienna. In the 2023 International Telekom Beethoven Competition Bonn, Jiahao was selected as one of the top six semifinalists, and all three rounds of solo repertoire were hailed by the General-Anzeiger (Germany) for his "solid, fantastic, and full of emotional drama." He is also a prize winner of Brahms Second Piano Concerto Competition and John Corigliano Piano Concerto Competition at Juilliard.

As an alumnus of Morningside Music Bridge (MMB), Jiahao's exceptional talent earned him full fellowships in 2017, 2018, and 2019, and he was awarded the Mazurka Prize at MMB 2018 in Warsaw, performing several times in the concert hall of Chopin University of Music in Warsaw, Jordan Hall in Boston, and Rockport Music Performance Center. His performances at MMB led to inspiring mentorship relationships with renowned artists, including Krzysztof Jabłoński, Wha Kyung Byun, John Perry, Piotr Paleczny, David Moroz, HaeSun Paik, Kum-Sing Lee, among others. Jiahao's recordings, featuring works such as Chopin's Mazurkas Op. 24, Kapustin's Sonata No. 2, and Stravinsky's Petrouchka, have been released as part of the annual MMB Album.

As a soloist, Jiahao has graced the stage with orchestras such as the Suzhou Symphony Orchestra under the baton of XU Zhong, the Shanghai Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Tianjin Symphony Orchestra conducted by Muhai Tang, among others. Remarkably, during the pandemic, he delivered two solo recitals at Juilliard and performed in over four chamber music concerts at both New York Juilliard and Tianjin Juilliard in 2021. His guest artist appearances have taken him to prestigious venues including Xinghai Concert Hall and Kayserburg Concert Hall in Guangzhou, Shanghai Symphony Hall, Shanghai Oriental Art Center, Opera House of Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing, Gansu Grand Theater, Anhui Grand Theater, and numerous others across China. Jiahao has also had the privilege of participating in masterclasses led by distinguished artists such as Robert Levin, Stanislav Ioudenitch, Robert McDonald, Richard Goode, William Grant Naboré, Golda Vainberg-Tatz, Orli Shaham, Alexander Braginsky, Antonio Pompa-Baldi, Yong Hi Moon, and more.

Embracing artistic innovation and integrity, Jiahao consistently dedicates himself to the exploration of new music and chamber works. In 2024, he was invited to perform in a benefit concert at Carnegie Hall ("The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp"), presenting solo and chamber pieces by young composers. He has been an active participant in the New Juilliard Ensemble and the Focus Festival at Juilliard. Notably, Jiahao's piano trio (with violinist Dylan Hamme and cellist Elisabeth Chang) was selected to perform Arensky’s Piano Trio in D minor at Juilliard Dean's Commencement Chamber Music Concerts in 2025. Jiahao's piano quartet group (with violinist Jimin Kim, violist Shuhan Wang, and cellist Jiaxun Yao) was selected to perform Chausson's Piano Quartet in A major at the Metropolitan Museum as part of the ChamberFest project in 2022.

 

Recognizing his exceptional musicality and pedagogical skills, Juilliard appointed Jiahao as a teaching fellow in the Ear Training Department in August 2021 and in the Theory Department in January 2022, teaching undergraduate core courses at all levels. He has been on the faculty of Juilliard Pre-College since August 2025. Since 2018, he has also taught private piano students, including those in the Pre-College, and he currectly serves as a teaching assistant for core courses Advanced Counterpoint and Advanced Harmony.

Commencing his exploration of composition in September 2022, Jiahao embarked on a transformative journey as a non-major composition student under the esteemed tutelage of Dr. Philip Lasser at Juilliard. Over the course of three semesters, he showcased his burgeoning talent by performing two sets of his piano suites ("Suite To Grown-ups Who Were once Children" and "Four Fantasy Pieces") along with a ballade for piano and orchestra. This period of intensive study and artistic expression culminated in August 2023, when Jiahao's creative brilliance radiated brightly in the composition of a theme song titled "Start Here Go Anywhere" for Wenzhou Children's Art School.

Jiahao Han's musical journey is a testament to his unwavering dedication, outstanding talent, and commitment to the pursuit of musical excellence. As he continues to evolve as a pianist, educator, and composer, he is poised to make a lasting impact on the world of classical music.