TIAN LU
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
Praised by the Miami Herald for her “strong musical instincts and flawless technique,” pianist Tian Lu has established an international presence as a soloist, chamber musician, and artistic leader. A prizewinner of major international competitions—including the Jaén International Piano Competition and the Emil Gilels International Piano Competition in Odessa, Ukraine—she is recognized for performances distinguished by interpretive depth and stylistic clarity.
Renowned for her affinity with Spanish repertoire, Tian Lu has appeared across North and South America, Europe, and Asia, performing at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, the Kennedy Concert Hall, Auditorio Nacional de Música in Madrid, Teresa Carreño Theater in Venezuela, Hong Kong Cultural Centre, Prince Mahidol Hall in Thailand, and other major international venues. As a soloist and collaborative artist, she has worked with orchestras including the Miami Symphony Orchestra, Venezuela National Symphony Orchestra, Odessa Philharmonic Orchestra, Sioux City Symphony Orchestra, and the Westchester Symphony Orchestra, as well as chamber musicians of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. She has toured extensively as a piano duo with her husband, pianist Yury Shadrin, presenting recitals and lecture-performances throughout the United States, Europe, Asia, and South America.
A defining influence in her artistic life was her close mentorship and sustained collaboration with Leon Fleisher. Beyond formal study, she worked closely with Fleisher and performed alongside him on stage, absorbing his intellectual rigor, architectural approach to interpretation, and humanistic vision of musicianship. This direct artistic partnership profoundly shaped her own philosophy of performance and pedagogy and ultimately led to the founding of the Leon Fleisher Academy.
As Co-Founder and Artistic Director of the Leon Fleisher Academy, Tian Lu has built an international platform dedicated to artistic integrity, high-level training, and meaningful professional stage experience for young musicians. Under her leadership, the Academy brings together distinguished international faculty while fostering an environment that integrates tradition, analytical depth, and expressive freedom. Her work extends beyond programming to shaping long-term artistic development, ensuring that the Fleisher lineage remains a living and evolving force within contemporary music education.
An equally committed educator, Ms. Lu has presented masterclasses and lectures at institutions including Harvard University, The Juilliard School, Eastman School of Music, Oberlin Conservatory, Cleveland Institute of Music, Central Conservatory of Music, Mahidol University, and UCSI University, among others. Her students have earned top competition prizes and admission to leading conservatories and universities worldwide, appearing as soloists and chamber musicians on major stages.
Ms. Lu began her training at the Middle School attached to the Shanghai Conservatory of Music. At sixteen, she was admitted to the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, where she earned an Artist Diploma under Monique Duphil. She continued her studies at the Peabody Institute of The Johns Hopkins University with Boris Slutsky and Leon Fleisher.
Through performance, mentorship, and institutional leadership, Tian Lu continues to advance a musical vision rooted in tradition, intellectual inquiry, and artistic responsibility.