Le piano qui chante

ZhenYu WU, violinist

Born in Shanghai (China), Zheng-Yu Wu began her violin lessons when she was four and half years old, making her public debut at the age of seven in the Shanghai Conservatory Concert Hall with the Scherzo & Tarantelle from Wieniawski. In 2000, she entered the Shanghai Conservatory of Music under Prof. Zhi-Nuo Ding. In 2002, she was a prizewinner in the “Postacchini” competition. In 2003, she won two major national violin competitions within two months. Following these successes, she made her debut recital in the Shanghai Grand Theatre and started to play with the leading orchestras in China – including China National Symphony Orchestra, Shanghai Symphony Orchestra，Shanghai Philharmonic Orchestra, Xiamen Philharmonic Orchestra, Henan Symphony Orchestra - and appeared on many occasions in major cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Xiamen, Hangzhou, Suzhou, Wenzhou, Henan and Xinjiang among others.
In 2004, she went to Royal Northern College of Music in England on a full scholarship from ABRSM (Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music), at the same time studying privately with Maestro Ivry Gitlis in Paris. She performed Sibelius Violin Concerto and Beethoven Triple Conceto with RNCMSO. And two years later, she was awarded the Professional Performance Diploma and Master Degree with distinction.

In 2006, she entered class of Prof. Zakhar Bron at the Escuela Superior de Musica Reina Sofia in Madrid. While in Europe, Zheng-Yu has performed in Belgium, England, France, Germany, Italy and Spain. La Libre Belgique described her playing as “une solide technique et un incroyable romantisme”. Ivry Gitlis recommended her as “a natural musician and violinist, a quality deserving, more than ever today, to be encouraged and respected. Processing the means, both technical and musical, to implement fully the demands of our great heritage.” Zakhar Bron mentioned her as “a girl with all possibilities”.

In January 2007, Zheng-Yu produced her first CD in China. In March, she made her first visit to Russia with local orchestras, on the programme of Tchaikovsky Concerto, Brahms Concerto, Chausson Poeme and Ravel Tzigane. In June she was appointed Vice Director of Art of International String Summer Academy Shanghai– the youngest ever to hold the post. In September she recorded for British contemporary classical music in England and released CD with Divine Art Ltd. UK. In June 2008, she again played Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto with Maestro Vladimir Ashkenazy in Auditorio Nacional de Musica de Madrid, who later praised her “singing with heart, very musical”. Started from February 2009, Zheng-Yu has been concertmaster of Shanghai Philharmonic Orchestra, invited by Maestro Mu-Hai Tang.

Madrid 2007