Finalist: Tian Lu

Ms. Lu started piano when she was 4 years old. After finishing her high school studies at the Shanghai Conservatory, she was accepted to the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, as a student of Monique Duphil in 2002, on a full scholarship.

She was the Liberace Prize winner in 2004. In March, 2005, at age 19, Ms. Lu was the youngest competitor at the Iowa International Piano Competition, hosted by the Sioux City Symphony Orchestra, where she won second prize. In November 2005, Miss Lu received the 1st Prize at the International Piano Competition in Maracaibo, Venezuela. She was invited as a soloist to play with conductor Eduardo Rahn.

In 2006, she was invited to perform in the Danenberg Honors recital. In March 2007, she won the 2nd Prize at the Kingsville International Piano Competition and also received the 3rd place of Grand Prize in this competition. In May 2007, she was invited to play at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C., to represent her school, Oberlin Conservatory.

In March of 2008, Ms. Lu won the Thailand International Piano Competition, where, in addition to a $5,000 cash prize, she was invited for concert engagements with Thailand Philharmonic Orchestra in season 2008-2009, and was awarded a professional, C3 class, 6'1" Yamaha Grand Piano, to be delivered to any destination of her choice; anywhere in the world. A month later, she won 2nd prize in the Southern Missouri Piano International Competition, where she was awarded 10,000 cash.

In the past five years, she has performed in the Master Classes of Russell Sherman, Richard Goode, Emanuel Krasovsky, Andre Bonatta, and others.

Ms. Lu has appeared as soloist with Sioux City National Symphony Orchestra, the Maracaibo Symphony Orchestra, Thailand Philharmonic Orchestra. As a chamber musician, she has performed with Maia String Quartet in Sioux City, Dorian String Quartet, and numerous other small ensembles.

Ms. Lu is also an organist at the Fields United Methodist Church of North Ridgeville, where she has been serving in a dual capacity as an organist and pianist for the past five years.