Wenting Yu

As a dedicated soloist, chamber musician, and pedagogue, pianist Wenting Yu has won numerous First Prizes worldwide, including the “2019 International Keyboard Institute and Festival Competition” in New York City, the “2020 WPTA Finland International Piano Competition”, the “2021 GOCAA International Piano Competition”, the “2020 Rutgers University Mason Gross Concerto Competition”, the Ravel Prize & Robert Casadesus Grand Award at the “2018 Fontainebleau Festival” in the Palace of Fontainebleau, France, the “2018 Mannes School of Music Piano Concerto Competition”, National Champion at the “Fifth China National Piano Competition” in Xiamen, China.

Mr. Yu has also achieved prizes including the “2020 Concerto Competition of Busan Maru International Music Festival” in South Korea, “2019 Steinway Award for Outstanding Pianist” from Mannes and the Steinway NYC; the Winner of a recipient of “MTNA Competition Steinway 2016-2017 Annual Young Artist Award”; the Third Prize Winner at the 9th Metropolitan International Piano Competition; Third Prize Winner of 2019 Gershwin International Piano Competition; Third Prize at the “Liszt International Piano Competition for Young Pianists” in Moscow, Russia, etc.

Mr. Yu’s journey is adorned with accolades such as demonstrated his virtuosity through collaborations with numerous orchestras and ensembles including the Busan Philharmonic Orchestra in Korea, Rutgers Symphony Orchestra, Xiamen Philharmonic, Columbus Capital Symphony Orchestra, the McConnell Arts Center Chamber Orchestra, Mannes Ensembles and Black Oak Ensemble. Besides, Mr. Yu has performed concerts for multiple times at the most iconic venues such as Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall, Lincoln Center’s Alice Tully Hall, Elgar Room of the Royal Albert Hall, and the Amphitheatre of Paris Philharmonie, DiMenna Center for Classical Music, etc. At the meantime, Mr. Yu has also been invited to give concerts at some significant cultural institutions, including The Frick Collection Museum, the Metropolitan Club, La Maison Françoise at New York University, CUNY’s Hunter College, the Union Club of NYC, Columbia University, Bohemian National Hall, Polish Consulate NYC, German Consulate NYC, Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China in New York and many others.

Beyond the stage, Mr. Yu’s dedication to nurturing young talents is evident through his roles as featured scholar and adjudicator, he also offered successful academic lectures at the “Online International Piano Pedagogy Symposium” of the 2020 Italian Conero International Music Festival and a pedagogical lecture via Livestream invited by the International Piano Professional Association in 2021. Mr. Yu always devoted himself to the explorations of coaching young pianists, including various levels of students in the U.S. and China.

A consummate educator as a current doctoral co-adjunct faculty, Mr. Yu shares his expertise with students at Rutgers University in New Jersey. Mr. Yu has become the featured artist of the Manhaville International Festival and served as one of the Jury members of the 1st Manhaville International Piano Competition. In addition, Mr. Yu has served annually as the judge of European Music & Stars Awards International Music Competition since 2020 and The YMIC Metropolitan Classical Music Festival & Competition; he is also serving as the Artist in Residence both at the Young Musicians Forum and the Global Outstanding Chinese Artists Association.

Mr. Yu is currently a candidate of his Doctor of Musical Arts Degree at Rutgers University’s Mason Gross School of The Arts in New Jersey, studying with Prof. Vladimir Valjarevic as a full-scholarship and doctoral teaching assistantship recipient. In May 2019, Mr. Yu graduated from Mannes School of Music of The New School with a full-scholarship, where he obtained his Master of Music Degree and under the tutelage of the chair of the piano department —Prof. Pavlina Dokovska. A native of Shenyang, China, Mr. Yu was born into a family of musicians, he graduated from the Pre-College of Shenyang Conservatory of Music in China where he received guidance with Prof. Danwen Wei, he then came to the United States to study with Prof. Jerome Lowenthal from The Juilliard School.

In the past, Mr. Yu has had the privilege of participating in masterclasses with Richard Goode, Yefim Bronfman, Robert Levin, Ann Schein, Murray Perahia, Vladimir Feltsman, John O’Connor, Solomon Mikowsky, etc.

Currently, Wenting Yu lives in New York City with his wife, concert pianist JingCi Liu and their daughter Clara.

“…He is an expressive and communicative performer who brings his enthusiasm to his students, colleagues and audience, particularly in the field of 20 th century French repertoire. At present, he has some exciting recording plans featuring the heritage of the golden age of the French School in Western Music History, and is being increasingly recognized internationally…” – Thérèse Casadesus Rawson, President Emerita of Fontainebleau Associations (USA)

“…I consider Wenting Yu a young artist of truly extraordinary ability, who has great and most interesting talent, and is one of the brightest stars of his generation. Wenting’s exceptional musicality and wide expressive range is combined with intelligence, maturity, deep understanding of music and excellent pianism…” – Pavlina Dokovska, Steinway Artist, Chair of the Piano Department at the Mannes School of Music, Artistic Director of Mannes Sounds Festival

“…Mr. Yu is a pianist of fantastic command of the instrument and striking innate musicality. Eloquent pianistic virtuosity is his second nature, making him stand out among many other pianists that I have heard or worked with. He performs with confidence, brilliance, and artistry…” – Vladimir Valjarević, Steinway Artist, Professor of Piano at Mannes School of Music, and Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University, Rutgers University & Mannes School of Music