Apple Gao

Young Artist Competition Winner

Apple Gao is a 17-year-old percussionist and a senior at Lynbrook High School. They began playing percussion at the age of 5, learning under the direction of Ja Hsieh. They have also taken lessons from Artie Storch and currently study under Galen Lemmon. In addition to percussion, Apple has taken piano lessons with Shu-Hua Cheng from a young age.

This is their sixth year as a member of the California Youth Symphony, as well as their third year in the Senior Orchestra. They have been selected to perform in the California All State Ensembles since 2020 and the Santa Clara County Honor Band since 2022. They have been a part of their school’s Marching Band and Winter Percussion programs since their freshman year.

Apple was the winner of the 2022 Lynbrook and Monta Vista High School Concerto Competition and was selected to perform all around the United Kingdom as the marimba soloist with the Lynbrook and Monta Vista combined wind ensemble. Additionally, they won first place in the mallet ensemble category and second place in the mallet solo category at NCPA’s I&E competition in 2023.