Simiao Xiao (Doris) is a violinist, violist, performer, teacher, and chamber musician based in Los Angeles. Born in China, she brings a diverse and internationally trained musical background to her teaching.

With six years of teaching experience, Simiao has taught violin, viola, and piano at various music academies, working with students of all ages and skill levels. She tailors each lesson plan to the individual needs of her students, and her teaching philosophy emphasizes independent musical thinking — encouraging students to explore and discover solutions for themselves rather than simply providing answers. She has guided students from their very first encounter with reading music all the way through concerto performance, and has helped many prepare successfully for exams and auditions.

Simiao holds a Bachelor of Music Performance from UCLA and a Master of Music Performance from California State University, Northridge (CSUN). Her performance training includes participation in music festivals across Thailand, China, Maine, and France, experiences she draws on to enrich her students' musical education.

Outside of teaching, Simiao enjoys improvising and composing music with friends. She also has a dog and enjoys cooking in her free time.