Chinese classical pianist Jennie Liu has an unusual background. She did not receive formal piano training until the age of 19. Yet, her intuitive and sensitive performances have already been praised for possessing “unaffected yet elegant musicianship” (Marina Lomazov), as well as being “technically very fine” (Anton Nel).
“A most gifted pianist with a wonderful future in music.”
— Steven Mayer
Full Biography
Jennie currently pursues a Doctor of Musical Arts under the tutelage of Dr. Vladimir Valjaravić at Rutgers University Mason Gross School of the Arts and serves as a Graduate Teaching Assistant. She holds a Master of Music degree and Performance Certificate from the University of Denver Lamont School of Music, where she studied with American pianist Steven Mayer. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree cum Laude double majoring in Music and Philosophy, with a minor in Business Administration, from Saint Mary’s College of Notre Dame in Indiana.
She has played in masterclasses with prominent pianists such as Jerome Lowenthal, Julian Martin, Jerome Rose, Gilbert Kalish, and Uriel Tsachor. Her most recent awards include First Prize in the International Franz Liszt Center Competition, 1st Place in Rutgers 2023 Chamber Competition; 1st Place (Duet) with her piano duo — the Rocky Mountain Duo, with Seattle-based pianist Reid Wolch, and 2nd Place (Solo) in the VII Valletta International Piano Competition in Malta; 2nd Place in the MTNA Stecher-Horowitz Two Piano Competition; and 1st Place in the Lamont Solo Honors Competition in 2021 which was followed by her concerto debut at the Gates Concert Hall at the Newman Center of Performing Arts.
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Born in Beijing, China, Jennie grew up with parents who prioritized academics. After her music teacher in an extra-curricular group Synthesizer class, Mr. Xu Ming, discovered her unusual musical talent, he recommended her to compete at the 2009 Annual Casio Synthesizer Competition in Dalian. After she won the Bronze medal in the competition, Mr. Xu recommended that Jennie pursue a pre-professional path. However, Jennie’s musical education paused from there, as she was accepted into the STEM program for gifted in Beijing's prestigious No.80 Secondary School. The following year, her family moved to the United States.
Seven years later, she discovered the vast classical piano repertoire while studying Computer Science and Vocal Performance as a first-year university student and taking a group piano proficiency class with Dr. Geena Kam, who later became her primary piano teacher. She fell hopelessly in love with the beauty of piano music and decided to devote the rest of her life to this pursuit ever since.