Ruixi Niu
Dr. Ruixi Niu is rapidly establishing herself as a brilliant young force in classical piano, distinguished by her sophisticated artistry and vibrant performances.
Holding a Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) degree in Piano Performance from West Virginia University in the United States, Dr. Ruixi Niu is a piano faculty member at the Shandong Normal University School of Music. Her membership in the Chinese Musicians' Association underscores her commitment to musical excellence and her role in nurturing the next generation of musicians in China.
As an active young pianist on the international stage, Dr. Ruixi Niu has held solo, concerto, and chamber music concerts in the United States, Italy, Korea, and China. She has successfully performed in prestigious venues such as the Arcidosso Cathedral in Tuscany, Italy; the Meiji University Concert Hall in Seoul, Korea; the Music Teachers National Association (MTNA) Annual Conference in Baltimore, USA; the Sandra Powell Recital Hall in Tennessee, USA; the Mary B. Galvin Recital Hall at Northwestern University, USA; the Creative Arts Center at West Virginia University, USA; Shenzhen Concert Hall; Shenzhen Steinway Hall; the Shengjing Grand Theater in Shenyang; the Erdos Grand Theater in Inner Mongolia; the Provincial Grand Theater in Shandong; and the Jinan Steinway Hall, among others, for solo and chamber music concerts. Her ability to convey rich musical colors and emotions has earned her high praise, with her performances described as “evoking the delicate and nuanced beauty of a pastel painting.”
Beyond the stage, Dr. Niu's commitment to the music community shines through her founding of the East/West International Piano Festival, where she serves as Executive Director and Teaching Artist. She was also invited to participate in well-known music festivals both in China and abroad, such as the InterHarmony International Music Festival in Italy, the Lanzhou International Piano Music Festival, the Vanke Meisha Chamber Music Winter Festival in Shenzhen, and the Zhou Guangren Music Summer Academy.
Her collaborations span notable musicians and orchestras, such as the Vivace Quartet, West Virginia Symphony Orchestra, University of Tennessee Symphony Orchestra and her discography includes a distinguished project with Grammy-nominated producer Joe Patrych, recording Beethoven's Diabelli Variations alongside over a hundred pianists globally.
Received full assistantships for education, Dr. Niu has been mentored by eminent pianists such as David Northington , Peter Amstutz, Yuanji Fan and she has also received invaluable guidance from legends like Byron Janis, Leon Fleisher and Andre Watts. Dr. Ruixi Niu's approach to music, combining technical skill with genuine emotional depth, has quickly made her a notable and influential young pianist in the classical music community in China and internationally.