Yu Xu (Lily Xu) is a Chinese organist and composer based in New York City. As an organist, her practice engages with contemporary and experimental performance, interdisciplinary collaboration, and expanded approaches to the organ, spanning historical repertoire, transcription, and contemporary music. As a composer, she explores the integration of acoustic instruments, electronics, and multimedia, with an emphasis on texture, spatialization, and cross-disciplinary collaboration.

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She has appeared as a soloist in organ recitals and has collaborated with orchestras and ensembles in a variety of concert settings. She was awarded First Prize at the Asia-Pacific Organ Competition in 2017. Her organ studies include work with Pamela Decker, Raymond Nagem, Jue Wang, and Liyi Zeng. Her compositional work has been developed under the guidance of Reiko Füting.

She holds a Professional Studies Certificate from the Manhattan School of Music and a Master of Music Degree from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, and previously earned dual bachelor’s degrees from Xiamen University. 

Siyuan Zhang is a pianist whose artistic trajectory reflects an uncommon synthesis of scientific rigor and musical imagination. He holds dual bachelor’s degrees in Physics and Music from the University of California, Santa Barbara, where he studied with Paul Berkowitz, before fully dedicating himself to piano performance.

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He has earned the Doctor of Musical Arts degree at the University of Arizona, where he studied under Steinway Artist John Milbauer and concert pianist Fanya Lin. He has also received private instruction from J.Y. Song. During his studies, he was awarded First Prize and the Audience Award at the 2022 Lois Trester Piano Competition.

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Siyuan has received additional recognition at the 2023 Aloha International Piano Competition (Second Prize, Young Artist Category), with distinguished pianists Alan Chow and Jon Nakamatsu on the jury. He has participated in the Chautauqua Institution Piano Program (2021, 2023) and has performed in masterclasses with Lydia Artymiw, Boris Slutsky, Jeremy Denk, and Alexander Gavrylyuk.

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Alongside his performing career, Siyuan is a dedicated pedagogue, maintaining an active and growing studio. His teaching emphasizes not only technical refinement but also artistic individuality and intellectual engagement. His students have received awards in competitions, including the American Protégé International Music Competition and other regional events.