From Warsaw to the international stage: A rising voice at 17
At 17, Tianyao Lyu is already establishing herself as one of the most closely watched pianists of her generation. Her international breakthrough came last year at the 19th International Fryderyk Chopin Piano Competition in Warsaw, where — at just 16 — she advanced through all stages and was awarded Fourth Prize as well as the Best Concerto Prize.
Her performances there drew attention for their poise, tonal clarity and emotional directness. While the competition’s final results generated discussion among some followers — as major competitions often do — Lyu’s artistic presence was widely acknowledged as one of the memorable elements of the edition.
More than a ranking, Warsaw marked the moment when her name entered the broader international conversation.
A musical path between China and Poland
Born in 2008, Lyu began her training in Beijing with Hua Chang at the Middle School attached to the Central Conservatory of Music. She now studies at the Poznań Academy of Music under Katarzyna Popowa-Zydroń, a respected Chopin specialist whose mentorship has shaped several notable pianists.
Her affinity for Chopin’s music was evident even before Warsaw. She won First Prize at the 31st International Chopin Piano Competition in Szafarnia and First Prize at the 19th International Ettlingen Piano Competition (2024) — achievements that signalled her readiness for larger platforms.
Observers often point to her natural command of the keyboard and vivid musical imagination. Yet what distinguishes her most is a sense of interpretative conviction: her phrasing is deliberate, her rubato personal without excess, and her stage presence composed rather than demonstrative.
An expanding international presence
Since her appearance in Warsaw, Lyu has performed as a soloist with the Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra, the Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra, the Kraków Philharmonic Orchestra, the Poznań Philharmonic Orchestra, the Katowice Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Salzburg Chamber Soloists.
Her concert appearances have taken her to major venues across Asia, Europe and the United States, including Carnegie Hall in New York and the National Centre for the Performing Arts in Beijing.
Still at an early stage of her career, Tianyao Lyu represents a generation of musicians for whom international recognition can arrive quickly — and expectations just as fast. At 17, she is no longer simply a promising name on a competition list. She is emerging as a pianist with a defined artistic identity, and one whose trajectory will be closely followed in the years ahead.
Where to find Tianyao Lyu
Official website
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YouTube
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