Meet Liu Yang, Winner of Scholarship 2021

     My name is Yang Liu. I am the prize-winner of the 12th International Tchaikovksy Competition and silver medal of Global Music Award. I performed as a soloist with world-leading orchestras including the Cincinnati Symphony orchestra, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, Danish Royal Odense Philharmonic to name a few. I was honored to be featured in a documentary called “String of heart--Yang Liu” highlighting my artistic life. This production was aired on CCTV (China Central Television) throughout China, together with my autobiographical book "Performing in Love"  which is published in the spring of 2014. In 2017, I performed on China’s most prestigious special New Year TV program in Qingdao, which reaches tens of million viewers. I was also a featured performer in Starling’s Emmy Award-winning educational video, Classical Quest.

 

     As an educator and guest artist, I have given masterclasses and performed in international music festivals throughout the US, Brazil, Portugal, China, Taiwan, Germany, and Mexico. Currently, I teach at VanderCook College of Music in Chicago. I founded Yang and Olivia Arts Foundation, whose aim is to provide a platform embracing diversity, equality, and inclusion. Since the pandemics, the foundation dedicated its outreach to local communities, fundraising, and live streams. In 2019, the foundation raised record-breaking funds to support music education in the south side of Chicago. Since my student years at the College-Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati, I am blessed to continue to perform and share my passion for music with others.

 

     Personally, I am a Chinese-American citizen who was born at the end tail of the Cultural Revolution. My family was on the persecution list for being educated and successful, therefore my birth was not recognized. Without the birth certificate, there were no food stamps allocated to me. I did not have eggs or milk until I was 6 years old. I came to the United States when I was 22. “Till this day I am grateful, and I admire what this great country has to offer. I make it my mission to contribute to society with my musical talent. I am sharing this part of my story because my upbringing has made an impact on my repertoire choices. I fully embrace and advocate diversity, equality, and inclusion which this country has strived for, and also because I was not granted such privilege as a youth. In this application, you will find Chinese transcriptions, Taiwanese transcriptions, the world premiere of contemporary composers, and traditional classical music. These are the programs I include in my recitals.