About
“An artist should have a sensitive heart, keen observational skills, and strong empathy. A flower, a ray of sunshine, a gentle breeze, a violent storm, a delicious meal, a movie, a book, meditation by the sea... I try to capture the most profound, beautiful, subtle thoughts and use them in my performances.”
When Xuanxiang Wu was 4 years old, his teacher played a piece that he says deeply captivated him. “Without realizing it, I instinctively imitated the elegant, melancholic melody on the piano. Later, I learned that this was the British folk song ‘Greensleeves.’ From then on, piano became magical in my heart.” He started his formal training the next year; then, at 9, he and his mother moved from their hometown of Changzhou when he was accepted into the Elementary School Affiliated to the Shanghai Conservatory of Music, where he studied with Ting Zhong for five years.In 2021, he moved again to further his studies—this time to the United States to study with Ernest Barretta at Juilliard Pre-College. He also received additional guidance from Mikhail Voskresensky. This August, Xuanxiang will attend The Juilliard School, where he’ll pursue a bachelor’s degree with Yoheved Kaplinsky.
A Young Steinway Artist, he has won first place at international competitions in the United States, Canada, China, and Russia. He recently won the New York Liszt International Piano Competition, which led to a performance with the Orchestra of St. Luke’s at Carnegie Hall’s Stern Auditorium. He's also played St. Petersburg State Capella Concert Hall, America's National Opera Center, Van Cliburn Concert Hall, Merkin Concert Hall, and Shanghai Oriental Art Center, and with the Fort Worth Symphony, Shanghai Philharmonic, Xiamen Philharmonic, New York International Youth Philharmonic, and Metropolitan Symphony Orchestras. “Every performance is a precious opportunity to connect with audience and convey emotions through music.” Outside of the piano, Xuanxiang enjoys painting, reading, LEGOs, movies, badminton, his cat Feifei, and his dog Carrot. He is also fascinated with marine life, spending time on seawater tank landscaping, and observing and studying various organisms.