Tianyi Lu (born 1989/1990) is a Chinese-born New Zealand conductor based in Europe.
Tianyi Lu | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1989 or 1990 (age 33–34)[1] Shanghai, China |
| Genres | Classical |
| Occupation(s) | Conductor |
Early life and education
Born in Shanghai, China, Lu emigrated to Auckland, New Zealand with her parents when she was five.[2] She studied the piano and flute and sang in various choirs throughout her youth.[3] During her principal studies in flute and composition at the University of Auckland,[1] she also began studying conducting with Karen Grylls and Uwe Grodd, as well as with Eckehard Stier, the then music director of the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra.[2] She graduated from the University of Auckland with First Class Honours[4][5] and was granted various awards and scholarships to study a Master of Music in Conducting with John Hopkins at the University of Melbourne, Australia.[3]
In 2012 and 2013, Lu was an active participant in the Symphony Services International Conducting Training Programme,[6] which saw her take masterclasses with the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra and Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra with teachers such as Christopher Seaman and Marko Letonja.[7]
In 2015, Lu completed a Master of Music in Orchestral Conducting with Distinction with David Jones at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama.[8] She also attended several masterclasses in Europe.[9][6][10]
Career
Positions
Tianyi Lu became the Principal Conductor of the St Woolos Sinfonia in Wales in 2014 and remains in this position as of 2023[update].[5]
Lu was also a Dudamel Fellow with the Los Angeles Philharmonic for the 2017/2018 season.[11][12]
Throughout 2017 to 2019, Lu was the Assistant Conductor for the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra.[7][13]
In 2019, Lu became the first Female Conductor in Residence for the Welsh National Opera.[14][15]
In 2021, Lu was also announced as the Conductor in Residence with the Stavanger Symphony Orchestra.[10]
Lu was appointed as a board member of the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama in 2023.[16][17]
Guest conducting
Orchestras Tianyi Lu has guest-conducted include the Hallé Orchestra, Romanian Radio National Orchestra,[15] the Madrid Symphony,[18] Gulbenkian Orchestra and Royal Scottish National Orchestra as well as the Turku Philharmonic, and Lapland Chamber Orchestra.[19]
Lu has also guest-conducted the Seattle Symphony, Singapore Symphony and Sydney Symphony Orchestras, as well as the Auckland Philharmonia,[19] Dunedin and Christchurch Symphony Orchestras.[20]
Awards
In 2020, Lu won first prize at both the International Conducting Competition "Guido Cantelli" in Italy,[21][22][23] and the "Sir Georg Solti" International Conducting Competition in Germany.[24]
Other
Tianyi Lu featured in the fifth episode of the documentary series Wonder Women by Christina Rose and MirrorWater Entertainment. The episode, titled A Woman's New World, was filmed in early 2020 and released at the end of 2021.[25][26][27] This highlighted her ethos of empowerment, using music to create compassionate connections across diverse communities.[4][15]