Maotong Yu

Biography

Maotong Yu is a baritone whose work spans opera, concert repertoire, and art song. He appeared in the title role of Puccini's Gianni Schicchi at the Lamont School of Music in 2025 and is scheduled to perform the role of Dr. Falke in Johann Strauss II's Die Fledermaus in 2026.

Originally trained in vocal pedagogy at the Tianjin Conservatory of Music—where he earned both his Bachelor's and Master's degrees—he later completed a Vocal Performance Certificate at the Lamont School of Music in the 2024–2025 academic year, and will earn his Master of Music in Vocal Performance at the Lamont School of Music in 2027. He studies under Matthew Plenk and works closely with vocal coaches Dr. Beth Nielsen and Sahar Nouri, as well as conductors Sahar Nouri and Catherine Sailer, gaining substantial performance and collaborative experience.

Maotong Yu's artistic philosophy emphasizes expressive vocalism and emotional resonance, striving to integrate refined vocal technique with a deep musical sensibility in every performance. As a high baritone, he is also drawn to exploring demanding contemporary repertoire, including roles such as Oppenheimer in John Adams's Dr. Atomic and Prospero in Thomas Adès's The Tempest. Through these challenges, he continues to expand his vocal capabilities while pursuing greater dramatic depth and artistic breadth.

Beyond performance, Yu is active in digital music initiatives. He developed the interactive game Sonarium Eternum and maintains a free online score library dedicated to the promotion and accessibility of Chinese classical music.

Photo Gallery