**FREE ENTRY // FRONT BAR // 6:30-8:30PM** Originally from Shanghai, Yemo Wang is an up-and-coming guitarist and composer now based in Melbourne and a recent graduate from VCA, known for his distinctive voice in jazz and improvised music. Drawing inspiration from contemporary greats like Kurt Rosenwinkel, Fred Hersch, Ted Greene and Ben Monder, Yemo weavesunique musical narratives that blends tradition with modern innovation. Yemo developed his artistic voice not only under the mentorship of esteemed musicians such as Stephen Magnusson, James Sherlock, and Barney McAll, but also through collaboration with renowned artists including Ingrid Jensen and John Hollenbeck, and performed alongside acclaimed musicians such as Kristin Berardi, Julien Wilson, Angela Davis and Dylan van der Schyff.Yemo is a finalist in the 2022 Allan Zavod Performers’ Award, and the winner of the 2023 Composer's Day competition. He is also a recipient of Cassidy Bequest Scholarship and Dr. Phillip Law Music Scholarship. In 2025 Yemo released his debut album titled “Branch of Bravery” with Brisbane based label Made Now Music (MNM), receiving rave reviews. “Yemo Wang has emerged onto the Australian creative music scene with a debut album consisting of highly evocative compositions, and impressive performances by a cast of young stars. The music has a versatility and a breadth of influences that come together to create a captivating listening journey. Yemo’s technical facility as a guitarist and skill as a composer are perfectly poised to deliver his imaginative ideas. There are many highlights on this album, but my favourites would have to be the compositions that feature two wordless voices embedded into intricate orchestrations, twisting and turning in sublime two-part writing, providing both the expected and the unexpected in satisfying quantities. Branch of Bravery is a highly impressive first offering and clearly indicates Yemo’s potential to become a serious contributor to creative music.” - Andrea Keller (December 2025)