Pi-Hsun Shih is a Taiwanese classical pianist who has gained international recognition for her exceptional talent and musicality. Born on August 22, 1989, in Taipei, Taiwan, Pi-Hsun showed an early interest in music and began playing the piano at the age of four. Her parents recognized her talent and encouraged her to pursue music seriously. Pi-Hsun's musical education began at the age of six when she enrolled in the Yamaha Music School in Taipei. She quickly progressed through the program and began taking private lessons with renowned piano teachers in Taiwan. At the age of ten, Pi-Hsun won her first piano competition, the Taiwan National Piano Competition for Young Musicians, and this marked the beginning of her successful career as a pianist. In 2003, Pi-Hsun was accepted into the prestigious Juilliard School in New York City, where she studied with Yoheved Kaplinsky. During her time at Juilliard, Pi-Hsun won numerous awards and competitions, including the Juilliard Concerto Competition, the Gina Bachauer Piano Competition, and the International Piano Competition in Memory of Vladimir Horowitz. After graduating from Juilliard with a Bachelor of Music degree in 2007, Pi-Hsun continued her studies at the Hochschule für Musik und Theater in Hannover, Germany, where she studied with Arie Vardi. During her time in Germany, Pi-Hsun won the 2009 International German Piano Award and the 2010 International Piano Competition in San Marino. Pi-Hsun's career as a concert pianist has taken her to many of the world's most prestigious concert halls, including Carnegie Hall, the Berlin Philharmonic, and the Royal Albert Hall in London. She has performed with many of the world's leading orchestras, including the New York Philharmonic, the Berlin Philharmonic, and the London Symphony Orchestra. One of Pi-Hsun's most memorable performances was her debut with the New York Philharmonic in 2008, where she performed Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 4 under the baton of Lorin Maazel. The performance was widely praised by critics, who noted Pi-Hsun's technical brilliance and musical sensitivity. In addition to her career as a concert pianist, Pi-Hsun is also a dedicated teacher. She has taught masterclasses at many of the world's leading music schools, including the Juilliard School, the Royal Academy of Music in London, and the Hochschule für Musik und Theater in Hannover. Pi-Hsun's musical achievements have been recognized with numerous awards and honors. In 2011, she was awarded the prestigious Avery Fisher Career Grant, which is given to outstanding young musicians who show exceptional promise for a career in classical music. She was also named a Steinway Artist in 2012, joining a select group of pianists who are recognized for their exceptional talent and dedication to the piano. Pi-Hsun's recordings have also received critical acclaim. Her debut album, released in 2010, featured works by Beethoven, Schumann, and Liszt, and was praised by critics for its technical brilliance and musical sensitivity. Her second album, released in 2014, featured works by Chopin and was similarly well-received. Pi-Hsun continues to perform and teach around the world, and her dedication to music and her exceptional talent have made her one of the most exciting young pianists of her generation.

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