During her studies in China, Yan Cong performed as a soloist and in chamber music ensembles. She also participated in symphonic performances.
In July 1995, Yan Cong joined the technical secondary education department ofNanjing Arts Institute to study the viola. Among the top 8 students examined by the five cities located in eastern China, she studies with the leading viola professor in China: XidiShen.
In October 1996, Yan Cong participated in the 6th China Arts Festival and gave a concert playing:
- Schubert's Arpeggione viola sonata;
- Brahms' Sonata Op. 120 No. 1 for Viola.
Yan Cong also performed Beethoven's Symphony No. 9 with the renowned Jiangsu Provincial Symphony Orchestra.
In September 2001, Yan Cong had the privilege of joining the best music university in China: the Central Conservatory of Music to continue studying the viola with one of the best viola professors in China: Wang Changhai.
In April 2003, she took part in the famous Beethoven festival in Bonn with one of the best professional orchestras: the China Youth Orchestra.
Yan Cong was also a member of the Central Conservatory Quartet during this period and participated in master classes with the Tokyo Quartet, Seiji Ozawa and Yoyo Ma.
In March 2005, Yan Cong was invited by Malcolm Layfield, who headed the department of Royal Northern College of Music from Manchester to prepare for the postgraduate diploma in Viola performance, which she did from September of the same year with the help of the renowned British violist and viola professor, Roger Bigley.
During her time in the UK, Yan Cong gave solo concerts, as well as performances with chamber and symphony ensembles. At the Royal Northern College, alongside courses with Roger Bigley, she also studied with Thomas Rible, Simon Rowland-Jones, and Malcolm Layfield.
Having graduated from RNCM, YanCong secured funding to joinGuildhall School Trust and prepare his master's degree alongside the renowned viola performer and pedagogue, Sven Arnetepl. This gave him the opportunity to play with the Guildhall Orchestra conducted by Sir Collin Davis.
During the celebration of the BBC performances in Gubaidulina in January 2006, Yan Cong was the first viola in the viola section of the Guildhall Orchestra.
In September 2007, she received a scholarship to join the Professional Performance Music course at Guildhall School of Music and Drama and study with John Glickman. During this time, Yan Cong participated in chamber music concerts in the UK, Italy, and Germany.
In September 2008, Yan Cong completed his studies at Guildhall School of Music with distinction, became the assistant to viola professor Wang Changhai, worked at the China Conservatory and taught viola in the Chinese College Symphony Orchestra.
Besides teaching, Yan Cong gives solo concerts in China in the cities of Beijing, Nanjing, Shanghai, etc.
