We recently connected with Anne Liu and have shared our conversation below.

Anne, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?

I think if I could redo this whole process again, I would be more accepting of making mistakes and turn everything into a learning experience. It is so important to have the correct mindset to do anything. If you want to be “ranked” best at something, then change that mindset to “do” your best. Because competition with others will always distort our abilities and self-confidence; it shifts our attention to what others are doing instead of focusing on our own. Your mind then becomes clouded with negative emotions the more you look at others and it does not direct your efforts into your craft whatsoever. Just giving your all at your craft and really really do your best will take you to places that you’ve never imagined. It also eliminates the feeling of regret that you didn’t work hard enough or the guilt of “What if I had just done a bit more.” You want to be satisfied with all your efforts, which triggers a healthy and positive cycle that leads to an internal motivation to achieve your goals. I’ve met and worked with so many talented and bright minds at both Columbia University and The Juilliard School, and I feel so blessed to have had the precious resources and supportive people around me. It definitely wasn’t easy, but hey, it was doable. Nothing is impossible, and if you enjoy the process, then it wouldn’t feel so tough. I think I have a rather positive mindset and a very carefree and humorous personality which sets me apart from others, especially in the music industry. But I haven’t always been like that. There were many times that everything felt like it was falling apart. I had always lived a two-sided life of juggling between my craft and academics. Society isn’t going to adjust according to your needs, you have to adjust to adapt to it. If you are unsatisfied about something in your life, either accept it if it can’t be changed or change it to accept it.

Anne, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I started playing the piano at the age of four. My older brother’s piano playing definitely played a major role in encouraging me to take up the instrument. I think I was around two years old at the time, totally fascinated by this black-and-white instrument, attracted to the crisp and satisfying sounds that it produced. Many of the children’s cartoons like “Tom and Jerry” and “Luney Toons” also inspired me to play the piano. I remember thinking “Wow, I wish my fingers could stretch and twist all the way across the instrument!” It’s such a silly idea now that I revisit this memory. I recently graduated from the Columbia-Juilliard Joint Program, where I pursued an Economics degree from Columbia University and Piano Performance from The Juilliard School. I am very thankful and privileged to have been given the precious opportunity to study at these two very distinguished institutions, and I lay my gratitude to my family and teachers.

A little bit about my musical journey:
I was very honored to have joined the Steinway Young Artist family in 2019. A core memory for me was being a Presidential Scholar in the Arts, performing with other talented musicians at John F. Kennedy Performing Arts Center. I also had the great privilege to be honored by the President of the United States of America at the White House and the Secretary of Education. I was one of the two musicians in the nation to win Presidential Recognition and the accompanying Davidson Fellow Scholarship. Being named a National YoungArts Finalist winner and receiving U.S. Congressional recognition was also an unforgettable step in my journey. I have won the Grand Prize and Full Scholarship to 2 years of Aspen Music Festival and School (2023 and 2018) at the Musical Merit Competition, featuring contestants in a variety of instruments along with vocalists.

In addition, I was also a top prize winner in the Young Musicians Foundation David Weiss Memorial Scholarship, the Los Angeles International Young Musician Competition, the Los Angeles International Liszt Competition, and a special prize for overall best performance of “Opera Paraphrase or Transcription” in all categories, the H.B. Goodlin Scholarship Competition, the 8th Bosendorfer and Yamaha USAsu International Piano Competition, and the Grossmont Music Scholarship Competition, etc.

I have performed extensively in the U.S., China, and Italy, including venues like the John F. Kennedy Center, Carnegie Hall, Harris Concert Hall in Aspen, Morse Hall at the Juilliard School, San Diego Symphony Copley Hall, New World Center in Miami, Auer Hall in Indiana University, Katzin Concert Hall in Arizona, Ningbo Concert Hall in China, and many others.
After making my concerto debut at the age of 12 playing Beethoven Concerto No. 2 with the San Diego Great Chamber Orchestra, I collaborated with the South Coast Symphony, the Southern California Philharmonic, the La Jolla Symphony, and many others.

My musical journey has not always been smooth. Like everyone’s journey in pursuing their passion, craft, or research, I have encountered many failures. It is psychologically, mentally, emotionally, and sometimes can even be physically challenging to face and accept failures. Winston Churchill once offered a perspective on failure: “Success is stumbling from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm.” I have been involved in competitions all throughout my musical journey. I view competitions as a type of learning experience: even if one doesn’t win anything from competitions, one can always learn from the experience and improve their craft upon that. I’ve never had a feeling that I had to become a pianist; it’s just something I’ve always loved. Music changes people’s moods and their health. Music will better your life, mentally and spiritually.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

Growing up, I was physically more frail than most of the kids around me, so I had this insecurity that people would judge me for being weak. I also experimented with a few extracurricular activities: I was put in dance classes at first and that didn’t turn out so well. I fumbled a bit until I realized that being able to make good music was what made me feel special. This passion for music made me feel confident about who I am. I don’t care about what happens around me when I play the piano, I don’t feel pressured when I play. I feel a sense of security because music is where I can truly express myself. I often find myself looking towards music as a cure for my worries and stress. Because when I am stressed or worried, I can’t think straight, and music calms me down. Sometimes, we can’t always express our feelings too much in the society that we live in today. So music expresses our deepest emotions whether it being good or bad. It speaks to the things that you can’t say and tells the world that you are hurt when no one knows. That’s why music is important to me because it expresses myself when I fail to do so myself.

I am constantly being inspired by people who dedicate their whole lives to art. Because we as musicians are willing to give our entire lives to a moment – to that melody, that harmony, that chord, or that interpretation that will tug at another’s heartstrings. Artists are people that have tasted the worthiest thing that life could offer in that crystal moment when they pour out their creativity and impact another’s life. Using music to connect with others, bond with others, and express one’s most vulnerable side in that moment is worth a lifetime of practice.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

I was really excited when pianist John Mark Harris remarked, “Miss Liu is not just a pianist, she is a musician and artist,” after hearing one of my performances. To me, the most rewarding thinking about being an artist is when I successfully deliver my music, which embodies my life experiences and personality, to the audience. It’s no secret that we are currently living in an era of technological prosperity. With access to music literally in the palms of our hands, the demand for music consumerism is greater than ever. To have audience engagement, to create a meaningful experience between the artist and the audience in a live performance, especially the elusive “young adult” audience in the era of the Internet is a challenge, but it can be extremely rewarding when someone comes up to you to let you know that they understood your message, your feelings, your past.

For a classical performer to speak to the audience sounds like blasphemy. However, younger classical musicians are breaking the fourth wall and communicating with the audience through words. By speaking with the audience about the music and the background of the performer, they feel acknowledged and this creates a bond between the performer and the public. I think it’s very important to be in the moment to sense what your audience needs. Are you performing for an audience that has a background in classical arts, for children, or just anyone? The information that you deliver on stage to the audience will vary based on who they are.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.anneliupiano.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anneliu_piano/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/anneliupiano
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anne-liu-999355172/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDCmhhGB8IFO7Tpx5Fl7CQw
• Other: https://www.steinway.com/artists/anne-liu