William Yang (born May 13, 2001) is an American pianist who was the winner of the 6th prize at the XIX International Chopin Piano Competition in 2025.
Yang was born on May 13, 2001. He started learning piano at the age of 4, and at 10 years old, he described himself as a "classical purist" and love for pianist André Watts. He performed with the Wayzata Symphony Orchestra, Minnesota Orchestra, and was a featured soloist in NPRâÂÂs From the Top Show in 2010. He studied with Alexander Korsantia at the New England Conservatory, Hung-Kuan Chen, Hans Boepple, and others in his youth.
He studied under Robert McDonald at the Curtis Institute of Music for his bachelor's degree and was a Kovner Fellow at The Juilliard School. He is currently studying at the Yale School of Music under Korsantia.
In 2025, William Yang won first prize at the 2025 National Chopin Piano Competition in Miami, Florida. He was able to receive a recording project with the Steinway label and performed in the Carnegie Hall following the competition. New York Classical Review described his playing as "A musician who essentially disappears behind the music, and thereâÂÂs an effortlessness to his playing that brings the focus away from him and toward the notes." In October 2025, Yang achieved sixth prize at the XIX International Chopin Piano Competition in Warsaw. He was able to perform with the Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra.