Xu Peng

Xu Peng started playing piano at the age of four. In 2008, he entered the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing, where he studied with Prof. Zhang Zhiwei. He received his BM in piano performance with a minor in French Studies from Rice University, alongside a special distinction in Creative Research. He is currently pursuing a MM at the same school under Prof. Jon Kimura Parker.

Among the awards received, Peng is a winner of the Macau Asia International Piano Competition, Hong Kong Asia Piano Competition, Xinghai Cup, and Cadenza Cup. He was most recently awarded first place for his performance of Khachaturian’s Piano Concerto in the Shepherd School Concerto Competition. His active participation in music festivals has brought him to Europe and United States, where he attended AIEN, Montecito Music Festival, Académie Fourvière, Adam Gyorgy Piano Academy, working with notable artists such as Jean-Yves Thibaudet, Marie-josèphe Jude, Florent Boffard.

In 2011, Peng appeared at the Forbidden City Concert Hall as part of the Liszt anniversary concerts. He also gave two recitals at Interlochen Arts Academy, where he played music by Debussy, Ravel, Schumann, and composition of his own. Interested in contemporary music and interdisciplinary works, Peng premiered piano composition of Cui Shiguang, and has participated the production A Proust Sonate by Sarah Rothenberg at Rice University. He was also selected to perform in the education DVD series of Prof. Zhou Guangren.