1 minute read
Yuzhang Wu
from 2023 Aimes Awards
by Benefitz
(16) PIANIST
Pianist Yuzhang Wu is a year 12 student at Pinehurst School. She was a recipient of an AIMES Junior Excellence Award for Music in 2020.
Yuzhang began learning the piano at the age of five. She also plays Cello.
In 2019, Yuzhang earned first prize in the 3rd Zhuhai International Mozart Competition for Young Musicians in China, providing the opportunity to perform Mozart's Piano Concerto KV 414 with the Salzburg Chamber Soloists.
Her awards for local music competitions include the Overall Winner of the Ara Lodge (APPA) Music Awards, 2017; the Pacific International Music Competition for Youth; the Norah Howell Recital in 2022; the Josephine Burry Concerto Prize from 2019 to 2022; Elizabeth Long Piano Scholarship (IRMT), 2021; Margaret Doone Memorial Piano Sonata Scholarship(IRMT); Alice Cole Piano Scholarship, 2022.
In 2018, Yuzhang travelled as a soloist with the APO (Auckland Philharmonic Orchestra) Chamber Orchestra, performing Mozart's Piano Concerto KV414 at the Eurochestries Festival in Qingdao, China. She also appeared with the Chamber Orchestra at Tianjin Grand Theatre and Auckland Town Hall, performing Grieg's Piano Concerto in A minor.
In 2020, Yuzhang performed Saint Saëns Carnival of the Animals with the APO. She also got the opportunity to perform Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 3 with the NZSO.
In August 2022, Yuzhang gave a Lunchtime Concert at the New Zealand School of Music's Adam Concert Room. In September, she performed Bach: Partita No.6 in APO Up Close with Bach.
Yuzhang ia a cellist in the Pinehurst School Orchestra.
Her goal is to be a New Zealand classical concert pianist and music educator on the world stage. She is keen on opportunities like famous music festivals in the US and Europe, and important international competitions for year 2023/2024.
The award grant will help Yuzhang to participate in international competitions and prestigious music festivals around the world.
After graduation from Pinehurst, she plans to apply for universities in the US or Germany to continue her music studies.
