Brandon Gao is a seventeen-year-old violinist from San Ramon, California. Brandon began studying violin at the age of six and currently studies under Ms. Zhao Wei. He joined the San Francisco Symphony Youth Orchestra in 2025 and will also be joining Young Chamber Musicians for the 2026–2027 season. In 2024, he served as principal second violinist of the CODA Symphony Orchestra.
In the summer of 2025, he attended the Meadowmount School of Music, where he studied with Professor Gerardo Ribeiro. In the summer of 2024, Brandon attended the Philadelphia International Music Festival and performed in a masterclass for Christine Lim, associate concertmaster of the Philadelphia Orchestra. He was also a finalist in the festival's concerto competition. Brandon will be returning to Meadowmount in the summer of 2026. He has also been invited to attend various festivals, including the Heifetz International Music Institute and the Boston University Tanglewood Institute.
Brandon has received prizes in various competitions, including DVC-HNU Strings, USOMC, and USIMC.
Outside of music, Brandon enjoys playing basketball, video games, and card games.
P. I. Tchaikovsky, Violin Concerto in D major, 1st mvt
