Wenyi Xiong

Pianist Wenyi Xiong is currently pursuing the Doctor of Musical Arts degree in piano performance on full scholarship under the tutelage of Dr. Timothy Shafer at the Pennsylvania State University where she serves as a Graduate Teaching Assistant in Piano. She received her master’s degree in Piano Performance under the supervision of Professor Christopher Harding at the University of Michigan, where she was appointed as a Departmental and Curricular Assistant in the piano faculty. She earned her bachelor’s degree at the Sichuan Conservatory of Music in Chengdu China and was selected for the Outstanding Student Training Program of the piano department for four consecutive years.
On behalf of the Pennsylvania State University, Wenyi Xiong was recently invited to have an interview with Town&Gown Magazine which was later posted on the State College city website. Wenyi has been successful in many competitions, taking the first prizes in the 37th annual Graduate Exhibition at the Pennsylvania State University (2022), the Charleston International Music Competition (2020), the 5th Ann Arbor Camerata Concerto Competition in the United States (2018), the Yamaha Asian Music Scholarship Competition (2016), the World Chinese Piano Competition (2007), and the 2nd Toyoma Asia Youth Music Competition in Sichuan, China (2003). She has also won prizes in the 8th ENKOR International Piano Competition (2021), the 5th Shenzhen Piano Open Competition (Piano Concerto Competition, 2015), and the China “Xing Hai Cup” National Piano Competitions (2010, 2008).
Wenyi performed her first solo recital at age 13. Since then, she has performed in various venues throughout Asia, North America, and Europe (recent highlights include doctoral solo recitals, various concerto performances and chamber recitals in Pennsylvania, and the performance of Sergei Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2 in c minor with the University of Michigan Orchestra in Ann Arbor, etc). Wenyi has additionally taken part in a range of piano festivals, including the Sicily International Piano Festival in Italy. At the 3rd Sichuan Conservatory of Music International Piano Festival, she was awarded the title of Outstanding Student, and earned the praise of Professor Gary Graffman. Moreover, she was selected to perform the works of Chopin and Debussy for the closing ceremony. In July 2011, she participated in the Shanghai International Piano Festival, under the supervision of Professor Nelita True, where she received an Excellence Award after winning the final round. She later took part in the 2nd China Changchun International Piano Festival in October 2011, mentored by Professor Yoheved Kaplinsky, where she won an Excellence Award in the professional group.

You can find Wenyi’s 2020 Romantic Music Competition piano performance here.

You can find Wenyi’s 2023 Spring Music Competition piano performance here.