“Just wow,” writes the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, naming Alan Liu as the first and youngest guitarist in its “30 Hot Musicians Under 30” program. Distinguished as one of the youngest laureates of the Guitar Foundation of America International Concert Artist Competition, Alan is an active concerto, solo, and chamber performer, as well as an avid educator.
Alan’s past concerto engagements include performances with the Prince George Symphony Orchestra, Victoria Symphony, and Vancouver Symphony Orchestra. In 2023, he made his Lincoln Center debut at Alice Tully Hall with the Juilliard Chamber Orchestra. He has appeared as a recitalist and guest artist at the Northwest, Architecture of Music, Crown, Montreal, Okanagan, and QinLing International Guitar Festivals. As a chamber musician, he debuted at the Aspen Music School and Festival alongside Grammy-winner Sharon Isbin. Alan has premiered works by Paul Lansky with the Curtis Guitar Quartet on the Grammy-winning label Bridge Records, and works by Lars Aksel Bisgaard with Azura Sky Media.
With more than 30 competition prizes, Alan has proven his artistry since his youth. Early accolades include major prizes in the Guitar Foundation of America, Michele Pittaluga (Italy), Parkening, and Montreal (Canada) International Guitar Competitions. Recent awards include the Sylva Gelber Music Foundation Award (Canada) and first prizes in the Denver, Indiana, Mercatali Gorizia (Italy), and Houston International Classical Guitar Competitions. Other awards include top prizes in the Tallinn (Estonia) International Guitar Competition and the Guitar Foundation of America International Concert Artist Competition.
Driven by a passion for education, Alan teaches guitar privately and serves as a guitar instructor and teaching assistant at Yale University. His private students have won awards such as the YoungArts Award and top prizes in the Guitar Foundation of America, Chicago, Florida, Houston, and University of Louisville International Guitar Competitions. His students have earned scholarships to leading conservatories and universities, including full-tuition offers to the Juilliard School, Berklee College of Music, and the Manhattan School of Music.
With degrees from the Curtis Institute of Music and the Juilliard School, Alan is the first guitarist in a decade to enter Yale School of Music’s doctoral program. Receiving the Plank Music Residency Award at Yale, he was recognized as one of two students with distinguished achievement. Among his mentors are Sharon Isbin, Jason Vieaux, David Starobin, Daniel Bolshoy, Michael Partington, and Ben Verdery. Additionally, Alan studied with Jonathan Leathwood, Rene Izquierdo, Keiko Alexander, LayTuan Tan, Ping Jin, and Xia Yang. He is currently completing his studies with João Luiz Rezende.
Alan plays on Augustine Strings, the original producer of nylon guitar strings. He chooses instruments by Martin Blackwell and Hanson Yao (Altamira Guitars).
Alan Liu 