Jeffrey Gao studied composition with John Carbon, Richard Prior, and Elinor Armer, and clarinet with Prof. Tao Chunxiao, Grammy Award-winning artist Doris Hall-Gulati, and Jeff Anderle. His compositions draw from diverse influences, including Renaissance counterpoint, jazz, and Chinese folk music.  Gao has received numerous commissions, with his works performed across Asia, the U.S., and Latin America. In 2013, his trio Journey for piano, violin, and bass clarinet was commissioned by Trio Clavino for their China tour, featuring performances at prestigious venues such as the Shanghai Oriental Art Center. In 2018 and 2019, he collaborated with world-renowned violinist Haik Kazazyan on a series of critically acclaimed concerts in Northern California.  As an educator, Gao has served as a guest lecturer in music history at both the Shanghai Conservatory and the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. His String Quartet No. 3, Festa no Brasil was recently commissioned, performed, and professionally recorded by Quartetto L’Arianna at the São Paulo Contemporary Music Festival. His works are published by ALEA Publishing, GPG Music, Murphy Music Press and Hal Leonard.

 

Gao holds a B.A. in Mathematics and Music from Franklin & Marshall College, where he graduated with honors, and an M.M. in Composition from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, where he currently serves as a board member.