2024 Adjudicators

An acclaimed piano virtuoso, Lang-Ning Liu brings an introspective approach to both the contemporary and classical repertoire, with performances that couple breathtaking technical mastery with noble musicianship. Anthony Tommasini of The New York Times hailed her as "a sensitive, extremely compelling artist", and praised her "elegant pianism, warmth and artistic maturity". Musical America has remarked on her "miraculous strength and confident breadth."

After winning several major prizes and prestigious awards, Ms. Liu's career has taken her throughout North America, Europe, and Asia, giving concerts in major venues around the globe. She has performed and recorded with the Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra, and for the Royal Conservatory of Music's Celebration Series Perspectives. Highlight performance engagements include soloist appearances with the Beijing Symphony Orchestra, Juilliard Symphony Orchestra, New Jersey Symphony Orchestra, Juarez Symphony Orchestra, Southern Missouri Symphony, Louisiana Philharmonic, Slovak State Philharmonic Orchestra, Liaoning Symphony Orchestra, Toronto Concert Orchestra, Cathedral Bluffs Symphony, University of Toronto Wind Ensemble, and Chinese Artists Society of Toronto Orchestra. Ms. Liu makes frequent media appearances on radio, TV and in the media print in Canada's largest broadcast and publishing networks, as well as those abroad. Notable media appearances include Czech Television, CCTV China, CBC Music, CTV's Bravo! & CP24 TV, The WholeNote, Toronto Star, Fairchild TV, Rogers TV, OMNI TV, InsideToronto, Sing Tao Daily, M2TV, and numerous guest performances on the CFMZ-FM Classical 96.3 FM.

Ms. Liu passionately devotes herself to educational and artistic outreach endeavours, helping the community actively through numerous projects. Ms. Liu is a Faculty member of the Glenn Gould School and the Taylor Academy for Young Artists at the Royal Conservatory of Music. In 2013, she was appointed as a member of Board of Directors at the Chinese Cultural Centre of Greater Toronto (CCC) as their Advisor of Culture & Education. In 2010, she founded and served as the Artistic Director for the Toronto International Piano Competition and the CCC Music Festival. She has been an Advisory Board Member of the International Resource Centre for Performing Artists since 2011. She is a frequent recipient of artistic grants in recognition of her contribution to the arts in Canada, United States, and in Asia. Ms. Liu also enjoys the reputation as a highly sought-after teacher in Canada, whose students have won recognition and achieved top awards in competitions at all levels, with successful acceptances into prestigious music schools with scholarships throughout Canada and abroad. She frequently conducts master classes, and adjudicates in festivals and competitions throughout North America and Asia.

Ms. Liu entered the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing with the highest honors at the age of 11. During her studies there, she made her orchestral debut with the Beijing Symphony Orchestra. Ms. Liu entered The Glenn Gould School in Toronto, where she began her undergraduate studies at age 17 on full scholarship, studying with Marietta Orlov. She completed her studies in Master of Music in Piano Performance at The Juilliard School in New York, under the tutelage of Julian Martin.