Bo Lyu is a pianist from Shenyang, China who completed a Postgraduate Advanced Diploma in Piano at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance and is a Trinity College London Scholarship recipient.
We spoke to Bo, about career so far, his time at Trinity Laban and his plans for the future. Bo explained how he first became interested in playing the piano.
“My father is a trombone player, and my aunt is a piano teacher, so I first tried the piano when I was five, but I was quite energetic when I was very young, and I could not sit still longer than 15 minutes.”
After a few false starts, Bo’s piano playing really started to take off at the age of 8, and within a year it was clear he had what it took to make it his profession.
At the age of 10, Bo started studying in the junior department of the Shenyang Conservatoire of music, where he continued his education until he was ready to apply for conservatoires outside of China.
“When I was 18, I went auditioned for the Royal Academy of Music in Beijing, and they offered me the full scholarship, so I decided to go there.”
The first few years in studying in the UK were quite challenging. As well as adapting to studying and communicating in another language, Bo also had to adjust to a new style of playing.
“In China, my teacher had more of a Russian, dramatic style but here in the UK, there is a more elegant and lyrical way to perform, so I had to work on that.”
A few years after starting at the Royal Academy, Bo received a Trinity College London scholarship to study at Trinity Laban. Bo explained the impact this had on him.
“I would like to say a thank you very much for the generous support from Trinity College London, without whom my studies at Trinity Laban would not be possible. It opened many unexpected opportunities for me.”
Bo has had some incredible performance opportunities since moving to London, but one stands out for him; his Concerto performance of Prokofiev Piano Concerto No.2 with the Trinity Laban Symphony Orchestra at the Blackheath Great Hall, which was part of a prize for winning the Soloist Competition.
“This is definitely one of my highlights at Trinity. I have always wanted to play this piece because it has such depth and meaning, it is probably one of the best concertos ever written. I am so grateful that Trinity allowed me to choose and play this piece!”
Bo told us about his approach to important performance like the one at the Blackheath Great Hall.
“Sharing music with an audience is indeed about communicating, but I am more of a shy and introverted person, so I think of it more as sharing a space and atmosphere with the audience. I focus on my instrument and bring out what this music means to me.”
Apart from performing, Bo is also expanding his career in teaching which he is also passionate about. He teaches mainly at King’s College London, and also give sessions at the Royal Academy and Trinity Laban. Bo hopes to share his experiences with his own students and help them find their own way to improve themselves.
“I would like to say a thank you very much for the generous support from Trinity College London, without whom my studies at Trinity Laban would not be possible. It opened many unexpected opportunities for me.”
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