Yu Rochelle Yuan

At the age of four, Yu was recognized for her ability for improvisation and understanding of harmonies and formally began her piano studies with Dr. Feng Wanyi from Tianjin Conservatory of China and Prof. Guan Changxin from Central Conservatory of China. Yu was a first prize winner in the Haitai International Piano Competition, as well as the China Youth Music Competition/Hummingbird Music Award where she competed in the category of chamber music. She loves playing chamber music and has held concerts with her own arrangements throughout high school. In 2021, Yu was accepted by Biola University with both music and academic scholarships and began her studies with Li-Shan Hung. In her first year, she was selected and featured to perform with the Biola Symphony Orchestra. Yu has toured across Israel as a choir pianist. She has also had the honor of being selected to work with many renowned musicians in masterclasses and private lessons such as Christopher Harding, Ann Schein, Boris Berman, Mana Tokuno, and Till Fellner. In addition to piano, she also minors in classical vocal performance and participates in the Biola Vocal Jazz Ensemble. In 2022, Yu won first prize at Cremona International Music Academy and was invited to give a concerto performance in Museo del Violino in 2023. She also participated in the Young Artist category in the MTNA Piano Competition and was awarded an honorable mention the following year.