He is a clarinettist born in in Los Angeles, California whose parents, who had immigrated from China. Although his parents were both scientists his father was also a singer and his mother a pianist. He played the clarinet from a young age and performed in youth symphonies and chamber music ensembles but initially took his studies at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) as a pre-med student. After two years at the University he concentrated on music and went to New York where he was a student at the Juilliard School from 1975 to 1977.
During his time in New York he co-founded the New York New Music Ensemble
When he was 19 years old, in 1977, he was appointed as solo bass clarinettist at the Chicago Symphony Orchestra by Sir Georg Solti. He would also be the first musician of Asian descent ever to be given a position in the orchestra. In 1979 he was given the position of Assistant Principal and E-flat Clarinet. For the years 2008 to 2011 he was Acting Principal Clarinet.
He has been a guest Principal Clarinet in China with the Guangzhou Symphony, in Korea with Seoul Philharmonic and in the USA with The Philadelphia Orchestra. He has also been a soloist with other orchestras as well as on several occasions with the CSO.
As a chamber musician he was a co-founder of the New York New Music Ensemble while and after joining the CSO he co-founded and directed Chicago Pro Musica in 1979 which won a Grammy Award for New Classical Artist in 1985. He also co-founded the quartet Birds and Phoenix and the visual music quartet INVENTIONS.
He is a regular performer at chamber music series and music festivals that include the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, the Marlboro Music Festival and the Taipei Music Academy Festival.
He has made many recordings during his career, including some that also feature performances by his wife and daughters. As a featured or solo performer these include Ebony Concerto, Clariet Sonatas by Easley Blackwood and Max Reger, Hindemith: Clarinet Chamber Music, Synergy, Sonic Migrations and Liquid Melancholy: Clarinet Music of James M. Stephenson. Other recordings he has performed on include Instrument of the Devil by Rachel Barton, Introducing Easley Blackwood by Easley Blackwood, Peculiar Plants by Victoria Bond, Stravinsky: L’Histoire Du Soldat – Suite/Rimsky-Korsakov: Capriccio Espagnol, Early Chamber Works by Elliott Carter and The Medinah Sessions by Chicago Pro Musica, Corigiliano: Symphony No. 1, Arnold Schonberg: Verklarte Nacht Op. 4/Piano Pieces Op. 11 & 19/Five Orchestral Pieces Op. 16, Wagner: Overtures and Preludes, Brahms: Violin Concerto/Sonata No. 3 and the soundtrack of the film Lincoln by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Mozart: Music For Bassett Horns by Member of the Chicago Symphony Winds, Blue Moth by Anna Clyne, Yellowstone: The Music of Nature and Christmas Extraordinaire by Mannheim Steamroller and Concerts Under the Dome by Various Artists.
In the field of musical education he was a faculty member at DePaul University’s School of Music for 26 years before becoming a member of the faculties of Midwest Young Artists at Fort Sheridan. Illinois and Chicago College for the Performing Arts at Roosevelt University.
He was first married to the clarinettist Jody Yeh and they have two daughters, Molly who is a percussionist and TV presenter and Jenna who is a culinary artist. He then married the clarinettist Teresa Reilly and they have a daughter Mia Reilly-Yeh.
Sources:
- https://cso.org/about/performers/cso-musicians/woodwinds/e-flat-clarinet/john-bruce-yeh/
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Bruce_Yeh
- https://vandoren.fr/en/artistes-vandoren/yeh-john-bruce/
- https://www.dansr.com/vandoren/resources/how-to-master-the-clarinet-family-with-john-bruce-yeh
- http://journal.juilliard.edu/journal/qa-john-bruce-yeh
- https://www.naxos.com/person/John_Bruce_Yeh/13119.htm
- https://www.allmusic.com/artist/john-bruce-yeh-mn0001742947
- https://www.discogs.com/artist/2756613-John-Bruce-Yeh
- https://www.discogs.com/artist/2756613-John-Bruce-Yeh?type=Credits&filter_anv=0&page=1
- https://www.roosevelt.edu/academics/faculty/profile/jyeh
- https://www.newmusicschool.com/advisory-board/john-bruce-yeh/