About XH

Xiangyuan Huang (Pron: Sh-iang Yoo-an, Hoo-ang) plays vibrantly as a violinist and chamber musician, and possesses a great passion for teaching.

Born in Beijing, China, Ms. Huang started the violin at the age of five with a local violin teacher, Mr. Hai Yu. Later on, she joined the studio of Mr. Xiong-Da Jiang - a Chinese distinguished violin pedagogue, composer and conductor. Ms. Huang had her first orchestral appearance at the age of eleven, playing the concerto by Charles Auguste de Bériot on the prestigious stage of Beijing Zhong-Shan Concert Hall. She also appeared as soloist and youth orchestras’ concertmaster on several major stages across China in her early years, and won prizes nationwide in China.

Currently, Ms. Huang serves as the Assistant Professor of Violin in Shenzhen University, China. She received both Doctor of Musical Arts and Master of Music in violin performance with a cognate of chamber music at College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) at the University of Cincinnati in 2021, studied under the tutelage of Professor Kurt Sassmannshaus; and she also studied with Professor Danwen Jiang at Arizona State University Herberger School of Music for her Bachelor degree.

As an active performer, Huang made appearance at the Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall in 2014, has performed concertos and held numerous chamber and solo recitals in prestigious venues across the U.S. and China. Meanwhile, she has performed together with renowned musicians, such as Peter Zazofsky, Yehuda Hanani, Catalin Rotaru, Bayla Keyes, Irina Muresanu, Miranda Cuckson, Michael Strauss and members from Juilliard String Quartet, St. Lawrence String Quartet, Shanghai Quartet, Brentano String Quartet, Ariel Quartet etc.

Among many accomplishments, she was a prize winner of 2019 Hong Kong International Violin Competition and Hong Kong International Chamber Competition; she also won the national second prize in Music Teacher National Association (MTNA) String Competition, and the third place in the 27th Tucson Symphony Competition. Ms. Huang has actively participated in many international music festivals, such as Harpa International Music Academy in Iceland where she performed Vivaldi’s Four Seasons Concertos as a soloist with orchestra, InterHarmony Music Festival in Germany, Manchester Music Festival, Red Rock Music Festival in Arizona and High Peaks Music Festival in New York and Massachusetts.

Ms. Huang earned degrees from Arizona State University and College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) at the University of Cincinnati, and her mentors include Ms. Danwen Jiang and Mr. Kurt Sassmannshaus. Additionally, she has played for Shmuel Ashkenazi, Mark Peskanov, Charles Castleman, Vadim Gluzman, Rachel Barton Pine, Martin Beaver, Catherine Cho, Ronald Copes, Carmit Zori, Friedemann Eichhorn, Yehuda Hanani, James Tocco etc. in masterclasses, coachings and other various occasions.

Ms. Huang is currently playing on a gorgeous Carl G Becker violin.

• As a violinist…

Huang plays with vitality, energy and charm. Not only does she rise brilliantly to technical challenges, but also her playing reflects her great discipline of sound and in-depth comprehension of the literature. She has expressive stage presence and distinctive personality in the playing.

• As a chamber musician…

Huang enjoys playing chamber music and collaborating with various musicians, and also greatly values the significance of chamber music. She is a wonderful collaborator with knowledge and experience of chamber literature and ensemble skills. She has studied a wide range of chamber repertoire and has collaborated with world-renowned musicians. She also plays in a professional violin-cello duo with cellist, Jiaze Ma. Both of them have been passionately exploring possibilities, making new arrangements and performed intensively on this genre.

• As a teacher…

Ms. Huang is a passionate and thoughtful teacher. Not only does she have the tools to demonstrate and to communicate both technical and musical challenges to students, but also she puts one’s individuality into perspective. She often encourages students to explore more possibilities, and believes that one of the most important aspects of education is to inspire students, who of course need to have laid the foundation and have grasped the basics, to be able to develop their own thoughts and interpretations beyond what and how they are taught to do - especially since we are here dealing with one of the greatest art forms. Also, the style of teaching should vary and be adjustable according to students’ level, personality, strength and determination, which usually dictates how quickly and how much students progress and improve.

She believes that the fundamental quality of a truly great musician is listening - “auditory sensability” (Leopold Auer). Being sensitive about listening is the key to good playing. While one should listen constantly and expansively, it is also critical to listen wisely. Particularly in an age when people can easily access to many great interpretations and possibilities online, it is extra crucial to learn from what you hear and play what you learn, instead of play exactly what you hear.

Furthermore, Ms. Huang studies and uses the Sassmannshauss tradition for early starters on the violin. And from many years of advanced study in depth with distinguished teachers and eminent musicians, Ms. Huang also absorbs enlightening ideas and artistic approaches and applies to her own playing and teaching.