XUE Yu, born in Shanghai, is a distinguished double bass player. He is currently a double bass faculty at the School of Music, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, and the principal of the double bass section of the Shenzhen Symphony Orchestra.

He studied at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music from 1982 to 1988 under the tutelage of Zheng Deren, a leading Chinese double bass player. In 1988, he entered the Shanghai Conservatory of Music with honors and studied with Zhang Sayong, Tang Yimin, and Cao Jian. He gave many solo and orchestral concerts and won acclaim from all walks of life. Between 1996 and 1999, XUE Yu joined the Shanghai Broadcasting Symphony Orchestra. From 1999 to 2001, he continued his studies at the Royal Conservatory of Music in Brussels (Belgium) under the tutelage of renowned virtuoso Frank Coppieters. At the same time, he was invited to join the Flemish Radio Symphony Orchestra (VRT) in Belgium.

In 2001 he joined the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra (Samuel Wong as Music Director). In 2003 he toured with the orchestra in Seoul, Korea, and Europe, performing in various cities, including London (Barbican Hall), Belfast, Dublin, and Paris (Théâtre des Champs-Élysées). During Edo de Waart’s tenure as Music Director of the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra in 2004, XUE Yu performed in Mahler’s Symphonies No. 1 to 7 and several major operas by Richard Strauss, such as Salomé and Elektra, to great acclaim. During his tenure with the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra, he has worked with renowned conductors such as Jaap van Zweden, Charles Dutoit, Ion Marin, and Conductor Laureate David Atherton.

He was appointed Principal double bass of the Shenzhen Symphony Orchestra in 2008. Highlights of his tenure with the orchestra include his appearance at many concerts and festivals. He toured with the orchestra in Eastern Europe in 2014. In July 2019, XUE Yu was invited to join the Qingdao Festival Orchestra and participated in the Qingdao International Music Festival, where his performance was warmly received by industry experts, the audience, and the media.

From 2016 to 2019, he was invited to be the guest principal double bass of the Shanghai Philharmonic Orchestra several times. He has gained valuable experience in musical interpretation, tonal pursuits, individual performance, and orchestra collaboration.