Xuan Liu has recently completed two years studying in Germany. She was successful in receiving the scholarship as a first-year Classical Performance student at the University of Auckland, when she was studying under Rae de Lisle. 

Xuan started playing the piano at the age of six, and has achieved many awards and scholarships in local and national competitions throughout her career. Some highlights would be Margarat Doone Piano Sonata Scholarship, Norah Howell Piano Recital Award, Pacific International Music Competition for Youths and Wallace National Piano Competition.

Chamber music is of great interest to her too: last year, Xuan progressed to the finals of NZCT Chamber Music Contest with her group ‘Trio Achilles’ and won the Helen Young Diamond Award.

She is immensely grateful to be both a Chiron Senior Scholar and a Haydn Staples Scholar in 2021. Xuan is looking forward to the many opportunities available to expand her musical horizons.

Xuan has reflected on her opportunities that the scholarhip provided for her; “Being a Haydn Staples scholar has really set me up for success - especially the chamber music and art song experiences. While studying in Germany, I've realised that being a good chamber musician is the lifeblood of pianists, so coming to Hannover already equipped with these skills has been so helpful for me. Another skill that I have developed thanks to the Haydn Staples Foundation is the ability to present recitals - which is infinitely more difficult for me now as I have to do it in German! In addition, the opportunity to play a concerto is so hard to come by everywhere, so the opportunity to play with the Auckland Philharmonic Orchestra remains a highlight in my memory”.

Jiazhou Conroy Hu began his piano studies at the age of 8. He completed his Bachelor of Music at University of Auckland in 2022. Conroy is currently in New York completing his Master’s degree at Mannes School of Music.

Conroy studied under the tutelage of Rae de Lisle, having previously studied with Matteo Napoli. In between his studies, he makes time to transcribe music and compose his own works.  Conroy has performed his works in the Wallace National Piano Competition and his first solo concert in Nelson two years ago. 

Over the years, he has won various categories in local competitions throughout New Zealand. At Auckland Grammar, he received the Senior Minister’s plate twice, in 2014 and 2016, and was also awarded the Headmaster’s Performing Arts Scholarship in 2016.

Conroy has performed with the Auckland Symphony Orchestra in Kerikeri (2016) and has won the Tauranga Performing Arts Competition Society Major Award (2016). In the same year, Conroy was a finalist in the Wallace National Junior Piano Competition and received the Lions Club of Te Awamutu Scholarship.