Richard Fu

Shanghai-born American pianist Richard Fu is currently a member of the Wiener Staatsoper Opernstudio and an aspiring recitalist with affinity for vocal and string repertoire. Though he had wanted to become a lawyer growing up and began as a political science major at Dartmouth College, Richard fell in love with classical music while studying abroad in Vienna and changed focus to music midway. He continued his studies at the Royal College of Music (RCM) in London, University of Oxford, the Juilliard School, and Kunstuniversität Graz where he studied with Julius Drake.

At Dartmouth, Richard received the Mark L. Lebowitz 1977 Memorial Prize for outstanding undergraduate music student, Macdonald-Smith Prize for high achievement in musical performances, and first prize in the Gerald A. Tracy Memorial Scholarship Piano Competition. Other distinctions include prizes at Los Angeles International Liszt Competition and Helmut Deutsch Lied Competition, as well as concerto performances with the Oxford University Philharmonia, Dartmouth Symphony Orchestra, and Dartmouth Chamber Orchestra.​

Despite his enjoyment of the solo repertoire, Richard is most comfortable when collaborating with others. Recent collaborations include performances in Carnegie Hall, Wigmore Hall, Wiener Konzerthaus Alice Tully Hall, WQXR radio, and Teatro della Pergola. After graduating from Juilliard, Richard played 30 concerts across America with violinist Timothy Chooi and multiple tours in Italy and America with cellist Zlatomir Fung. He also performed Stravinsky’s Septet as part of RCM’s collaboration with the Philharmonia Orchestra in the Stravinsky: Myths & Rituals Festival, Steve Reich’s Double Sextet during the composer’s residency at RCM, and keyboard parts under the batons of Thomas Adès and Alan Gilbert.

During the summers, Richard enjoys attending music festivals and young artist programs. He has participated in Riccardo Muti’s Italian Opera Academy, Renée Fleming’s Songstudio at Carnegie Hall, and Thomas Hampson’s Mahler Lieder course at Royaumont Fondation. Richard has received fellowships from Tanglewood Music Center, Aspen Music Festival, Music Academy of the West, Britten-Pears Young Artist Programme, and SongFest. He has worked in masterclasses with Antonio Pappano, Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Anne Sofie von Otter, and Maxim Vengerov. Richard is deeply indebted to his family, teachers, and colleagues for how they have shaped him as a person and musician.