Reylon Yount

Artist, Connector, Environmentalist, Social entrepreneur, Student

Reylon Yount is a yangqin (扬琴) player, composer, and improviser who comes from San Francisco, California. As a biracial Chinese-American, Reylon has drawn influence from his Chinese heritage in all aspects of his life, including his music. He studied yangqin for 14 years under Ms. Zhao Yangqin and Ms. Zhao Gangqin of the Melody of China ensemble in San Francisco, and Professor Huang He from the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing. In 2014, Reylon became the first American to compete on yangqin in China and won a silver prize at the Baotou International Dulcimer Arts Festival. Through his performances, Reylon hopes to help reinvigorate the yangqin tradition and catalyze cultural exchange between Chinese and American audiences. He was thrilled when he had the chance to work with the Silk Road Ensemble for the first time in his junior year of college. Since then, he has been a guest performer with the Silk Road Ensemble four times and appeared on their newest album, "Sing Me Home." Reylon studied Environmental Science and Public Policy at Harvard College. While at Harvard, Reylon founded an educational performing arts series called Cultural Connections, served as captain of the Harvard Wushu Team, and was elected first marshal his graduating class. He is passionate about supporting socially engaged artists and working to create the cultural conditions necessary to build sustainable communities.

Using the arts as a language of change-making

We should not assume that efficient policymaking, market design, and scientific innovation are enough to address the challenge of sustainable development. We must reckon with cultural and emotional forces that shape human choices if we want to ensure the longevity of our species.

Chinese music, Environmental policy, Socially engaged art

I grew up with TED Talks and was thrilled to perform on the TED stage in February, 2016.

Making funny Snapchat stories