About
Tianxu An, from Baoding, near Beijing, is a sought-after young artist, both at home in China and around the world. In June 2019, Tianxu drew international attention when he won fourth prize and a special prize for “courage and restraint” in the XVI International Tchaikovsky Competition—the highest award for a Chinese pianist at that contest in 17 years. A month later, he made his debut with the Philadelphia Orchestra at the Mann Center.
Recent concert highlights include performances with the Mariinsky, China Philharmonic, NCPA (National Centre for the Performing Arts), and Macau Orchestras, as well as a 2021 major recital tour across China. He recorded his first CD in August 2021, a recital album for Alpha Classics featuring works by Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninov, and Prokofiev. He previously won top awards at the Greenfield Student, “Helen Cup” Shanghai International Piano, and Wiesbaden International Piano Competitions.
Born into a non-musical family, Tianxu began his piano studies because his parents believed it a good way to develop intelligence. His love for and commitment to music grew throughout his time at the Middle School affiliated with the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing, where he studied with Hua Chang. He moved to Philadelphia in 2015 to attend the Curtis Institute of Music under the tutelage of Meng-Chieh Liu and Robert McDonald, and also studies privately with Dang Thai Son. His career pursuit is largely driven by the fact that “music is a powerful language which establishes a deeply emotional bond among people.”
Competition Repertoire
Preliminary Round
- GUBAIDULINA Chaconne
- MENDELSSOHN Variations sérieuses, op. 54
- HOUGH Fanfare Toccata
- LISZT Mephisto Waltz No. 1
Quarterfinal Round
- SCHUMANN Toccata in C Major, op. 7
- BEETHOVEN Sonata No. 31 in A-flat Major, op. 110
- SCRIABIN Sonata No. 5, op. 53
Semifinal Round - Recital
- BRAHMS Sonata No. 1 in C Major, op. 1
- PROKOFIEV Sonata No. 6 in A Major, op. 82
Semifinal Round - Mozart Concerto
- MOZART Piano Concerto No. 21 in C Major, K. 467
Final Round - Concerto 1
- SAINT-SAËNS Piano Concerto No. 2 in G Minor, op. 22
Final Round - Concerto 2
- RACHMANINOV Piano Concerto No. 3 in D Minor, op. 30
Meet Tianxu
Performance Videos
Preliminary Round
MENDELSSOHN Variations sérieuses, op. 54
HOUGH Fanfare Toccata
LISZT Mephisto Waltz No. 1
Relive the 2022 Competition
Own the 30 live recordings of each competitor’s Preliminary Round performance of Sir Stephen Hough’s Fanfare Toccata.