June 15 2022

Michelle Jia Yun Xu, piano

Pianist Michelle Jia Yun Xu began private studies in her hometown of Vancouver, British Columbia at age eight. By 11, she made her international debut at Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall and has since made solo and chamber appearances in Poland, Malta, Italy, Switzerland, France, China, and the US. Most recently, she performed at the Musée Matisse in Nice, France.

Currently in her undergraduate second year, Michelle studies with Angela Cheng and Alvin Chow at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music and previously with Kenneth Broadway and Ralph Markham in Vancouver. Additionally, she has worked with Marie-Josèphe Jude, Charles Richard-Hamelin, Hortense Cartier-Bresson, André Watts, Benedetto Lupo and more.

Michelle is a prizewinner of the Shean Competition, the Vancouver Women’s Musical Society Bursary Competition, Seattle International Piano Competition, Bjorn & Lori Hareid Competition, and Pacific Youth Piano Competition. As a recent scholarship recipient, Michelle is grateful to the BC Arts Council.

Passionate in supporting her community through music, Michelle performed her first solo recital in 2015 with all proceeds to the BC Alzheimers’ Society and continues with frequent retirement home recitals and benefit concerts. Additionally, she has performed and studied at some of the world’s most prestigious festivals: International Summer Academy of Nice, MusicAlp, Domaine Forget, Morningside Music Bridge, and more. In 2014, Michelle made her concerto debut with the West Coast Symphony Orchestra at the Chan Centre for the Performing Arts and has since appeared with the Philharmonic Orchestra of Alicante and the Rimsky-Korsakov String Quartet.

In addition to her piano studies, Michelle enjoys learning languages, particularly French, currently completing her last semester in pursuit of a Minor in French Studies. She has also received DELF certification and was a semi-finalist in the Concours D’Art Oratoire.

This recital is generously sponsored by VWMS members Margot Ehling and Donna Eden

Programme

Michelle Jia Yun Xu, piano