Prof. HONG XU
Hailed by the New York Times as “technically brilliant, insightful musician, and seemingly limitless potential”. Hong Xu is one of the China’s most accomplished pianists in his generation.
He has performed with world-renowned conductors such as Yannick Nezét- Seguin, Vladimir Ashkenazy, Mikhail Pletnev, Sir Mark Elder, Yan Pascal Torterlier , Hans Graf , Markus Stenz, Robert Spano etc. Previous concerto appearances with London Philharmonic Orchestra, BBC Symphony Orchestra, Hallé Orchestra in Manchester, Russian National Orchestra, Orchestre Nacional de Portuguesa, Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra, Beijing’s NCPA Orchestra, Beijing Symphony Orchestra, Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestre Métropolitain de Montréal, Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, Utah Symphony Orchestra，etc.
Mr. Xu has appeared in many important recital series and venues, including Wigmore Hall, Weill Hall at the Carnegie Hall, Terrace Theater at the Kennedy Centre, Beijing’s NCPA, Taipei’s National Concert Hall, Seoul Arts Centre, etc. BBC Magazine and International Piano Quarterly has named him as one of the most promising rising stars.
A devotee of new music, Xu has premiered works by Frederic Rzewski who wrote “ Rubinstein in Berlin” for him in 2008. Since then, he has performed many American composers’ work both in China and abroad including Bolcom, Corigliano, and Rochberg.
He received early training in Wuhan Conservatory of Music with Liping Jiang, subsequently went to the United States studying with Douglas Humpherys, Jerome Lowenthal and Robert McDonald at the Eastman School of Music and the Juilliard School. During his study in the States, he won prizes at Bachauer, Hilton Head and Honens International Piano Competition.
He has been teaching at the Wuhan Conservatory of Music from 2010-2023 where he had tremendous success with his online masterclass series. He is now an Associate Professor of Piano Department at the Chinese University of Hong Kong (Shenzhen), School of Music. He has been invited to give masterclasses at the Eastman School of Music, San Francisco Conservatory of Music, Oberlin Conservatory of Music, Trinity College London, Taipei National University of the Arts, Beijing International Music Festival &Academy, and Amalfi Coast Music and Arts Festival, Perugia Piano Festival in Italy. He also serves as the Artistic Director of the New Zealand International Piano Festival.