Yicheng Pan

Described by Art China as a pianist of “refined technique and deep musical understanding,” Yicheng Pan enjoys an active career as both performer and educator. A Chinese-born musician, he teaches piano major at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland (RCS) while maintaining a vibrant international performing profile. Known for venturing fearlessly into musical territories rarely explored by classical pianists, he is recognised for a distinctive artistic voice that balances tradition with curiosity and daring imagination.

Driven by a belief in music’s power to connect cultures, Yicheng commands a broad repertoire and has also trained in Historically Informed Performance. His debut with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra in Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 3 marked the beginning of an artistic journey that has taken him across the UK, Europe, and China. Committed to community engagement, he frequently performs for audiences with limited access to live music, especially children and young learners, helping them discover joy in music and begin their own musical paths.

Yicheng’s repertoire reaches far beyond conventional boundaries – from J. S. Bach’s Goldberg Variations to major works by Chopin, from Chinese piano literature to his own transcriptions of Piazzolla. He holds a particular passion for introducing Chinese piano music to international audiences. His Chinese repertoire spans Xinjiang Uyghur-inspired dances, Cantonese melodies, Peking Opera, traditional folk songs, contemporary works and many other genres.

In February 2025, he curated and directed a landmark all-Chinese New Year concert in Madrid’s Retiro Park. The programme featured the Spanish premiere of The Butterfly Lovers Violin Concerto in its violin-and-piano version, performed by Yicheng and violinist Youlan Lin – marking both the work’s first known performance in Spain and the country’s first concert devoted entirely to Chinese music.

In July 2025, Yicheng was invited by HRH Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh and Royal Patron of the Edinburgh Society of Musicians, to give a solo piano performance at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh. He received a standing ovation led by His Royal Highness. The reception was attended by the Lord Provost of Edinburgh, his Consort, and leading supporters of the arts community.

A committed chamber musician, he frequently performs with his brother, cellist Tianao Pan, exploring repertoire from Beethoven to Tan Dun’s Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon Sonata. His recordings demonstrate wide stylistic versatility – from Baroque works to South American repertoire. Notable releases include live recordings of Rachmaninoff’s Piano Sonatas Nos. 1 and 2, in which he became the first pianist to perform and record both works in a single concert. His cross-genre album Piano Tango Project has been praised internationally for its creativity and artistic excellence.

As a dedicated educator, Yicheng is an accomplished teacher whose students have won numerous competitions, earned ABRSM Diplomas, and entered major conservatoires and specialist music schools with significant scholarships. His teaching is tailored to each student’s personality and musical potential, characterised by incisive guidance, imaginative approaches, and constructive feedback. He has served on international piano competition juries and on the RCS audition panel for prospective students.

Beginning piano at the age of three, Yicheng was admitted to the Pre-College of the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing at ten and continued into the senior school (Grade 7–12) without audition. He later won a Full Scholarship by ABRSM to study at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, completing his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees there, followed by an Advanced Diploma (NFQ Level 8, doctoral equivalent) at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire.

He is a recipient of numerous awards, including the Peter Lindsay Miller Prize for Piano Duo, the Bamber Galloway Prize, the Philip Halstead Prize, the Governors’ Recital Prize, the Walcer Prize, and the Sheepdrove Intercollegiate Piano Competition.

Yicheng has been privileged to receive guidance from distinguished pianists and teachers including Huiqiao Bao, Yuanpei Lai, Qifang Li, Aaron Shorr, Petras Geniusas, and John Thwaites.