Ji Liu (pianist)

Ji Liu
Ji Liu break dancing on the piano
Background information
Born 1990 (age 25–26)
China
Genres Classical
Occupation(s)
Labels
Website www.jipianist.com

Ji Liu (born 1990) is a China-born concert pianist, recording artist and composer, currently based in London.

Career

Ji Liu was born in China to a family with an interest in music, where his mother played guitar and his father played the trumpet, although his parents were not professional musicians.[1] He expressed an interest in learning the piano at age 3.[1] He subsequently began piano and music lessons, and undertook formal studies at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music in piano and conducting.

At age 13, Ji won the 6th Pinault piano competition in New York City in 2003, which subsequently led to his debut recital at Carnegie Hall.[1] In 2004, he earned Second Prize in the 11th International Music Competition Jeunesses Musicales in Bucharest, and First Prize in the Ludmila Knezkova-Hussey International Piano Competition in Canada. Upon completion of his studies in Shanghai, he then moved to Europe, and became a pupil of Dmitri Bashkirov at the Escuela Superior de Musica Reina Sofia in Madrid.[1] In 2007, Ji moved to London, having received a full scholarship to continue his Bachelor of Music focusing on Piano Performance with Prof. Christopher Elton and Composition with Ruth Byrchmore at the Royal Academy of Music (RAM). During his studies at the RAM, he received the RAMs Club Prize. In 2010, he won First Prize in the Sheepdrove Piano Competition. In 2013, he graduated from the RAM with a Master of Music with both a Distinction and a DipRAM.

Ji has recorded Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue with James Watson and the Royal Academy of Music's Symphonic Brass Ensemble on the RAMs own label, in an album released in November 2010. In 2014, he released his solo debut album Piano Reflections.[2][3][4] He released a follow-up album, Piano Encores, in early 2015.

Outside of music, Ji s hobbies include breakdancing.[5]

Awards

In 2005 and 2006, Ji took part in the Verbier Festival & Academy in Switzerland, where he received the Tabor Piano Award and CUBS Prize from UBS Bank. From 2008 to 2012, he was the recipient of the Martin Musical Award from the Philharmonia Orchestra. In 2010, he was awarded the Audience Prize of the Friends of RAM Wigmore Award, and was selected by the International Holland Music Session in the Netherlands for their 'New Masters on Tour' Series. In 2011, he was an award recipient from the Yamaha Music Foundation of Europe. Over the period 2011-2014, he was a recipient of several Hattori Foundation awards. He became the youngest ever first prize winner at Brant International Pianoforte Competition in Birmingham. He was selected as a Young Classical Artists Trust (YCAT) artist in 2013.[6]

Albums

• American Icons (2011) - Gershwin, Rhapsody in Blue, with Royal Academy of Music Symphonic Brass and James Watson
• Piano Reflections (2014)
• Piano Encores (2015))
• Pure Chopin (2016)

Compositions

For solo keyboard instrument

For chamber music

For small ensemble

For voice

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Daniel Gumble (2014-04-08). "Interview: Classical pianist Ji Liu". Musical Instrument Professional. Retrieved 2014-08-24.
  2. ↑ "Ji Liu's album hits top spot in Classical Chart". King's College London Student News. 2014-02-14. Retrieved 2014-08-23.
  3. ↑ "Ji Liu makes the music speak for itself". Pianist Magazine. 2014-05-26. Retrieved 2015-02-12.
  4. ↑ Jed Distler (August 2014). "Piano Reflections". Gramophone. Retrieved 2015-02-12.
  5. ↑ Anne-Marie Marshall (2014-01-24). "Ji Liu on Piano Reflections and breakdancing". Classic FM Magazine. Retrieved 2014-08-23.
  6. ↑ "2013 YCAT Artists Announced". Young Classical Artists Trust (Press release). 22 January 2014. Retrieved 2014-08-23.

External links

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