【Dr. Yunqiu Xu】

Executive Director, University of Kansas Vocal and Chamber Music Org

Piano GTA , University of Kansas

Staff Pianist, St Tomas Aquarius High School

Pianist Yunqiu Xu grew up in a musical family. She began piano at age 4 and has continued ever since as a soloist, collaborative pianist, and teacher. Yunqiu claimed first prizes   at CIA International Artist Competition, Charleston International Baroque Competition, Orbifold Global Music Competition. She was the winner at 2024 KU Piano Division Concerto Competition. She also won second prize at the San Jose Piano Competition.

As an accomplished soloist, she has performed recitals and concerts with orchestra at

Merkin Concert Hall in New York, Irvine Barclay Theatre in California, Kauffman Center for Performing Arts in Kansas, Bicknell Family Center for the Arts in Kansas, and the Lied Center of Kansas. As a collaborative pianist, she has played with instrumentalists,   vocalists, ensembles in New York, Kansas, and China. Currently, she plays for the choral and musical theater programs at St. Thomas Aquinas High School. Prior to that, she was a staff pianist at the Tianjin Juilliard School.

Yunqiu is studying under Dr. Scott McBride Smith at KU. She is an active member of KU’s music associations and has presented on piano pedagogy at the Kansas Music Teachers Association conference. Yunqiu serves as creative director and treasurer of the KU Chamber and Vocal Music Organization. She recently adjudicated the Midwest Chamber and Vocal Music Competition, piano division.