Tristan Liao

Wind Symphony Solo Competition Winner

Tristan Liao, age 12, is a marimba player from Fremont. His journey began at the age of 9, under the mentorship of Tammy Chen, where he discovered a deep passion for this instrument. Under Ms. Chen’s guidance, Tristan’s daily practice transforms into a growing love for percussion.

Currently a 6th grader at William Hopkins Middle School, Tristan is also a second-year percussionist with the Wind Symphony. His dedication has been recognized through a series of music awards including 1st place in both the Young Artist and the J. S. Bach categories at the United States International Music Competition (USIMC) in 2023, Silver Winner at the International Young Artist Competition in both 2022 and 2023, as well as the 1st place in the Golden Classical Music Award Competition in 2023.

Tristan had his solo marimba debut at the Merkin Hall of the Kaufman Music Center in New York City in 2022 after winning the International Young Artist Competition.

Beyond the rhythm of the marimba, Tristan finds joy in skiing, immersing himself in literature, and exploring the world on his bike.