Chinese clarinetist Hanyuan Zhao began studying clarinet with Chinese clarinetist Yuhua Gu at the age of 9. In 2014, he enrolled in the School of Music at Soochow University, where he studied with Dr. Xiaoting Ma and received his undergraduate degree. Since 2018 he has been studying in the United States, first enrolling in the Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University in Chicago on a scholarship. During his studies in Chicago, Hanyuan Zhao studied with John Yeh, Associate Principal Clarinetist and E-flat Clarinetist of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and received his graduate degree. In 2021, Hanyuan Zhao received an acceptance letter from the University of Minnesota and began his doctoral studies. During his studies, Hanyuan Zhao was mentored by many renowned clarinetists such as Professor David Shifrin (Yale University), Professor Chad Burrow (University of Michigan), Professor Michel Lethiec (Conservatoire Supérieur de Paris), Professor Mingzhe Wang (Michigan State University), Professor He Yi ( China Conservatory of Music), Andrew Simon (The Hongkong Philharmonic Orchestra), Walter Seyfarth (Berlin Philharmonic), Brooks Thon (Osaka Philharmonic), Bai Tie (China), Genisson Pierre (France), Massimo Mazzone (Italy), Dr. Junghwan Lee (South Korea), Dr. Madelyn Moore (Kerry) Madelyn Moore (Kilgore College, Texas), Dr. Sarah Labovitz (Arkansas State University), Professor Spencer Prewitt (Austin Peay State University), Marco Thomas (Germany). In addition, Hanyuan Zhao has been actively participating in competitions such as the Chongqing Clarinet Festival Competition and Soochow University Chou's scholarship of Chamber Music.
