JingCi Liu
INTERVIEW
Tell us about one of the earliest memories of your career
One of the earliest memories of my career was to be invited as a featured soloist to perform at Tianjin Concert Hall in my hometown, which is considered as the one of most prestigious and charming performing arts venues in the city.
The concert was part of the Tianjin Music Festival on May, which always presents a month long concert series for the local classical music lovers. At the time, I was just about 12 years old. If I had to use one word to describe my performance in the festival back then, I would use “fearless”. I miss those beautiful memories of performing at beautiful hall and to that lovely audience in my hometown.
The concert was part of the Tianjin Music Festival on May, which always presents a month long concert series for the local classical music lovers. At the time, I was just about 12 years old. If I had to use one word to describe my performance in the festival back then, I would use “fearless”. I miss those beautiful memories of performing at beautiful hall and to that lovely audience in my hometown.
How do you prepare yourself before you start a new project?
I always look forward some inspirations before start a new project. For my first released album of seven female composers from Classical and Romantic periods, Twentieth, and Twenty-First century, I prepared it for several months before I finally settled down the official repertoire for it I have done many researches on different female composers through different centuries, listen to different recordings, and learn their composition backgrounds and stories.
I also have had many productive lessons with my mentors to discuss the choice of the repertoire, composers, and the theme for the project before I actually start to learn each works. The whole process from the beginning to the release day of this project was around 2 years. As always, I feel very grateful for receiving all the valuable suggestions from all the teachers.
I also have had many productive lessons with my mentors to discuss the choice of the repertoire, composers, and the theme for the project before I actually start to learn each works. The whole process from the beginning to the release day of this project was around 2 years. As always, I feel very grateful for receiving all the valuable suggestions from all the teachers.
If you could write your own story, what would your destiny be? What goals would you like to achieve?
For my long time goal is to be both a piano pedagogue and a concert pianist. I admire those wonderful artists who can manage their time and life so productive and meaningful to the community and the world. Also, I had a dream since young which is to having my own piano school. But now I actually can say that it is really happening.
My first school will be launched very soon in my hometown, Tianjin, China. I always feel that it is my duty to use what I have learned these years to impact the next younger generation in the classical music world. That is something I would like to devote myself into it. As always, being on the stage is a luxury thing. I will welcome any opportunity to present my beloved works and collaborate with musicians all over the world.
My first school will be launched very soon in my hometown, Tianjin, China. I always feel that it is my duty to use what I have learned these years to impact the next younger generation in the classical music world. That is something I would like to devote myself into it. As always, being on the stage is a luxury thing. I will welcome any opportunity to present my beloved works and collaborate with musicians all over the world.
What does success mean to you?
To do something that I have passion for life means success to me. Piano brings me this cherish opportunity to my life. It becomes a wonderful lifetime accompany and profession, which I think I found something truly close to me and could present as my force to tell who I am and what role I can be in this competitive and cruel world. I wanted to be a piano teacher —to be able to help young generation to achieve more and more beautiful and enjoyable learning and performance experiences. At the same time, I look forward to continue my performance career as a solo pianist and a chamber musician. Although, it is not easy to maintain a good balance on both things as the time goes on. I am willing to take risk on it.
What has been the most important learning during your career?
The most important thing that I have learned from my early career so far is to always welcoming challenges, try out new ideas, and be open to any connections and collaborations with different people.
Eventually, it may bring something positive, surprised, and unpredictable to our life in any levels. I also love to make friends from different fields, which I would always learn, something new from others. It is an eye-opening experience, and it will bring some artistic inspirations to me.
Eventually, it may bring something positive, surprised, and unpredictable to our life in any levels. I also love to make friends from different fields, which I would always learn, something new from others. It is an eye-opening experience, and it will bring some artistic inspirations to me.
Any upcoming projects you can tell us about?
For the next project, I will be intensively working on my dissertation as the final requirement for the DMA degree at the University of Connecticut. It is about the influence of Frederic Chopin in Clara Schumann’s early piano works.
I will examine the compositional style and performance practice in the selected works. I am very excited about this topic because it carries a lot of passions from my recording project “Portrait of Beauty”, which I chose Clara Schumann’s op.6 as a main course for it. She was such an incredible soul. She is viewed today as a saint and priestess of the Romantic period for her incredible contribution as a composer, pianist, and pedagogue. I couldn’t imagine how she was able to handle multiple roles at the same time. It is exciting that her piano works are being interpreted more and more frequent in the concert or competition.
I will examine the compositional style and performance practice in the selected works. I am very excited about this topic because it carries a lot of passions from my recording project “Portrait of Beauty”, which I chose Clara Schumann’s op.6 as a main course for it. She was such an incredible soul. She is viewed today as a saint and priestess of the Romantic period for her incredible contribution as a composer, pianist, and pedagogue. I couldn’t imagine how she was able to handle multiple roles at the same time. It is exciting that her piano works are being interpreted more and more frequent in the concert or competition.
PROJECTS
ABOUT
Pianist JingCi Liu, a native of Tianjin, China, Recently, she won the Second Prize and the Special Award-Best Romantic Performance at the Spotlight International Piano competition. In 2020-2023, she received top prizes in the Concert Artists International Competition, the New York Classical International Music Competition, the Medici International Music Competition, the Global Outstanding Chinese Artist International Piano Competition, the WPTA Finland International Piano Competition, and the William Knabe International Piano Competition. Also, she was awarded one of seven National Outstanding Artists Awards at the American Music Open Competition in California.
Ms. Liu has been featured as a soloist and chamber musician at the 2020- 2023 UConn Piano Day Master Class and Concert Series, curated by Dr. Angelina Gadeliya at the University of Connecticut. She is a GOCAA Artist and co-executive director of the Global Outstanding Chinese Artist Association Solo Recitals series. She presented a piano solo and duo concert at the opening concert of the 2022 GOCAA Artist Concert Tours and was highly appraised for her “compelling, sensitive, and energetic” playing by New York Concert Review. In 2020, Ms. Liu was selected as one of the eight promising featured pianists for the Conservatoire américain de Fontainebleau in France. Over the seasons, Ms. Liu has performed throughout prestigious venues in New York City as a featured pianist at the Mannes Sounds Festival. Including the Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall. Steinway Hall, The Frick Collection, National Opera Center, the Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China in New York, the German Consulate General in New York, the Bohemian National Hall, the Metropolitan Club, House of Redeemer in New York City and many others.
Ms. Liu holds both a Professional Studies Diploma and a Master of Music Degree from the Mannes School of Music of The New School, where she was under the guidance of Pavlina Dokovska and Vladimir Valjarevic. Upon her graduation from Mannes, she received the Steinway Award from the Piano Department and Steinway & Sons New York which is given to an outstanding pianist.
Ms. Liu is pursuing a DMA degree in piano performance at the University of Connecticut, studying with Dr. Angelina Gadeliya. She receives a Full Scholarship and serves as a Graduate Teaching Assistant. From 2020-2023, she received grants from the Evelyn Bonar Storrs Scholarship Fund of the Musical Club of Hartford, Connecticut. Ms. Liu has been appointed as one of the guest artists and youth piano juries at the 1st Manhaville International Piano Competition and Festival in New York, in which she presented virtual lectures and concerts about “The Art of Collaboration in Piano Duo” with her husband Mr. Wenting Yu. She has been an international jury at Music Star Award International Music Competition in Europe since 2020. Her first solo album features seven female composers through the last two centuries, which includes many important and rarely heard works from Marianna von Martinez, Cecile Chaminade, Clara Schumann, Amy Beach, Lili/Nadia Boulanger, and Caroline Shaw.
Ms. Liu has been featured as a soloist and chamber musician at the 2020- 2023 UConn Piano Day Master Class and Concert Series, curated by Dr. Angelina Gadeliya at the University of Connecticut. She is a GOCAA Artist and co-executive director of the Global Outstanding Chinese Artist Association Solo Recitals series. She presented a piano solo and duo concert at the opening concert of the 2022 GOCAA Artist Concert Tours and was highly appraised for her “compelling, sensitive, and energetic” playing by New York Concert Review. In 2020, Ms. Liu was selected as one of the eight promising featured pianists for the Conservatoire américain de Fontainebleau in France. Over the seasons, Ms. Liu has performed throughout prestigious venues in New York City as a featured pianist at the Mannes Sounds Festival. Including the Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall. Steinway Hall, The Frick Collection, National Opera Center, the Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China in New York, the German Consulate General in New York, the Bohemian National Hall, the Metropolitan Club, House of Redeemer in New York City and many others.
Ms. Liu holds both a Professional Studies Diploma and a Master of Music Degree from the Mannes School of Music of The New School, where she was under the guidance of Pavlina Dokovska and Vladimir Valjarevic. Upon her graduation from Mannes, she received the Steinway Award from the Piano Department and Steinway & Sons New York which is given to an outstanding pianist.
Ms. Liu is pursuing a DMA degree in piano performance at the University of Connecticut, studying with Dr. Angelina Gadeliya. She receives a Full Scholarship and serves as a Graduate Teaching Assistant. From 2020-2023, she received grants from the Evelyn Bonar Storrs Scholarship Fund of the Musical Club of Hartford, Connecticut. Ms. Liu has been appointed as one of the guest artists and youth piano juries at the 1st Manhaville International Piano Competition and Festival in New York, in which she presented virtual lectures and concerts about “The Art of Collaboration in Piano Duo” with her husband Mr. Wenting Yu. She has been an international jury at Music Star Award International Music Competition in Europe since 2020. Her first solo album features seven female composers through the last two centuries, which includes many important and rarely heard works from Marianna von Martinez, Cecile Chaminade, Clara Schumann, Amy Beach, Lili/Nadia Boulanger, and Caroline Shaw.