Biography

Hailed by Anthony Tommasini of The New York Times as “a sensitive, extremely compelling artist,” acclaimed virtuoso Lang-Ning Liu brings an introspective approach to both the contemporary and classical repertoire, with performances that couple breathtaking technical mastery with noble musicianship. Her uncommon artistic range and the compelling immediacy of her interpretations offer listeners distinctively original concert experiences.

After winning several major prizes and prestigious awards, Ms. Liu’s career has taken her throughout North America, Europe, and Asia, giving concerts in major venues around the globe. Ms. Liu made her performance and debut CD recording with the Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra to be released, after embarking on a Canadian tour with the Toronto Concert Orchestra under the late maestro Kerry Stratton’s baton, to whom the record album will be dedicated to. Critics raved of her “spellbinding and dramatic like-lightning” interpretation of Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No.1, while the Barrie Examiner wrote: “from the first crashing chords, juxtaposed with the famous opening theme in the brass, to passages of quiet lyricism and extroverted energy, Liu’s playing was both expressive and fittingly spectacular. The enthused crowd rose to their feet in appreciation of a truly inspirational evening.” Highlight performance engagements include soloist appearances with the Beijing Symphony Orchestra, Juilliard Symphony Orchestra, New Jersey Symphony Orchestra, Juarez Symphony Orchestra, Southern Missouri Symphony, Louisiana Philharmonic, Slovak State Philharmonic Orchestra, Liaoning Symphony Orchestra, Toronto Concert Orchestra, Cathedral Bluffs Symphony, University of Toronto Wind Ensemble, and Chinese Artists Society of Toronto Orchestra.

Ms. Liu is a recording artist for several editions of Frederick Harris Music’s acclaimed “Celebration Series Perspectives”, in association with Royal Conservatory. She has made media appearances on radio, TV and in print on Canada’s largest broadcast and publishing networks, as well as those abroad. Notable media appearances include Czech Television, CCTV China, CBC Music, CTV’s Bravo! & CP24 TV, The WholeNote, Fairchild TV, Rogers TV, OMNI TV, InsideToronto, Sing Tao Daily, M2TV, and numerous guest performances on the CFMZ-FM Classical 96.3 FM. A passionate interpreter of new music, she premiered the Emerson Concerto by Charles Ives with The Juilliard Symphony Orchestra and conductor Anne Manson in New York that brought the cheering audience to its feet. She has also premiered and recorded commissioned works by such composers as the Juno-Award winning Vincent Ho, and by the late Clifford Crawley.

In addition to her concertizing activities, Ms. Liu continues to devote herself to educational and artistic outreach endeavors, helping the community actively through numerous projects. Ms. Liu is a Faculty member of the Glenn Gould School and the Taylor Academy for Young Artists at the Royal Conservatory of Music. In 2013, she was appointed as a member of Board of Directors at the Chinese Cultural Centre of Greater Toronto (CCC) as their Advisor of Culture & Education. In 2010, she founded and served as the Artistic Director for the Toronto International Piano Competition and the CCC Music Festival. She has been an Advisory Board Member of the International Resource Centre for Performing Artists since 2011. She is a frequent recipient of artistic grants in recognition of her contribution to the arts in Canada, United States, and in Asia.

Ms. Liu also enjoys the reputation as a highly sought-after teacher in Canada, whose students have won recognition and achieved success at renowned festivals, including numerous top-prize winners and finalists in the Gina Bachauer International Piano Competition, Canadian Chopin Piano Competition, ArtePiano International Competition, Aarhus International Piano Competition, Kaufman International Piano Competition, WPTA Finland International Piano Competition, International Piano E-Competition, Claudette Sorel Piano Competition, Hilton Head International Piano Competition, Cleveland International Piano Competition, OMNI Competition, Quebec Music Competition, Canadian Music Competition, IMFC Competition, Canada International ORMTA Provincial Instrumental Competitions, Steinway Piano Competitions, and The Taylor Academy Concerto Competition. Her students have had successful acceptances into prestigious music schools with scholarships throughout Canada and abroad, including admissions to The Juilliard School, Oberlin College, New England Conservatory, Mannes School of Music, Eastman School of Music, The Tianjin Juilliard School, McGill University, Peabody Institute, The Glenn Gould School, and The Taylor Academy of Royal Conservatory. She often gives master classes at music academies and schools across Canada, United States and Asia, and has served as adjudicator at numerous competitions. She has been invited to the International Music Exchange Festival held in Shenyang, China, where she gives master classes and prepares students for performance.

A native of China, Ms. Liu began her piano studies at age 6, she made her debut in a local auditorium when she was 8. At 11, she entered the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing with the highest honours. During her studies there, she made her orchestral debut with the Beijing Symphony Orchestra, performing Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 1. She entered The Glenn Gould School in Toronto, where she began her undergraduate studies at 16 with Marietta Orlov on full scholarship from the Sing Tao Daily Foundation. She completed her Masters studies in Piano Performance at The Juilliard School in New York, under the tutelage of Julian Martin. Her studies with Vladimir Ashkenazy, James Anagnoson, and Dang Thai Son have also exerted notable influences on her artistry.