Hu Nai-yuan (Chinese: 胡乃元; pinyin: Hú Nǎiyuán; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Hô͘ Nái-gôan, born 1961 at Tainan, Taiwan) is a Taiwanese violinist.
He came to the United States in 1972 to continue his studies, first with Broadus Erle and Joseph Silverstein.
Since winning the First Prize of the prestigious Queen Elisabeth Competition in 1985, Hu Nai-Yuan has appeared on many of the world's stages, including the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, Avery Fisher Hall in New York City and major venues in London, Paris, Brussels, Munich, and other cities in Europe, North and South Americas and Asia.
In praise of his playing, BBC Music Magazine wrote, “Taiwanese violinist Nai-Yuan Hu is an awesomely capable performer whose technical facility, musical intelligence and unfaltering verve place him among the higher echelons of today’s string virtuosi.” He plays the Ex-Hubay Stradivarius.
He was featured as a violinist in the 2001 film Kate & Leopold starring Meg Ryan and Hugh Jackman.