Hsiang-Yin Hsiao (b. 1990) is a Taiwanese violinist with extensive experience in solo, chamber, and orchestral performance. Since 2020, she has also taken up the nyckelharpa, deepening her passion for Nordic folk music—a love that has grown steadily over the years. Based in Oslo, Norway, she actively engages in a wide range of projects and concerts across Sweden, Norway, Taiwan, and Hong Kong.
Hsiang-Yin has a deep passion for chamber music. Since 2009, she has performed regularly with pianist Olga Yun-Han Hung, developing a wide range of programs—from duo to quintet. She is also a member of the Nomadic Strings Ensemble and the folk music duo Nyckelfele.
Born in Taichung, Taiwan, Hsiang-Yin began playing the violin at the age of five. From 2005 to 2014, she studied under Hui-Chun Lin and Chao-Hsiu Lee at the Tainan National University of the Arts (TNNUA).
After earning her master’s degree at TNNUA, Hsiang-Yin began her career as an active chamber musician and orchestral player. She has performed as a guest violinist with several professional orchestras across Asia, including the Kaohsiung Symphony Orchestra and the Hong Kong Sinfonietta.
In the early years of her career in Taiwan, Hsiang-Yin was a member of the Arts Blooming Ensemble (ABE, 藝綻室內樂團) from 2009. As part of the ABE String Quartet, she and her colleagues won both the First Prize and the Audience Prize at the 2012 Hsiung-Ho Chamber Music Competition.
In 2017, Hsiang-Yin moved to Norway to pursue a master’s degree in music performance at the Norwegian Academy of Music (Norges musikkhøgskole, NMH) in Oslo, studying under Elise Båtnes. She completed the program and earned her degree in 2019.
While studying in Norway, Hsiang-Yin also began freelancing as a professional musician. Since then, she has performed as a substitute player with several orchestras in Norway and Sweden, including the Swedish Chamber Orchestra, the Norwegian Opera Orchestra, the Norwegian Radio Orchestra, and the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra. From September 2021 to December 2022, she held a full-time position with Dalasinfoniettan in Falun, Sweden.
Hsiang-Yin first tried the nyckelharpa in 2020, and it has since become a significant part of her musical life. During her time living in Sweden, she learned a variety of traditional Swedish tunes by playing with fellow folk musicians.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Hsiang-Yin co-founded Mårran Media, a video and audio production company, with Henrik Bondevik.
Outside of music, Hsiang-Yin enjoys reading, swimming, and exploring new skills and knowledge.