Channing Chu

Channing Chu is a New Zealand-born pianist who is currently studying under Professor László Baranyay and Professor Lajkó István at the Liszt Ferenc Academy of Music in Budapest. He completed his Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music under Professor Phillip Shovk, graduating with the highest piano recital mark of 94. Upon graduation, he received several prestigious awards, including the Winifred Margaret Neirous Award, the Keith and Eileen Ong Prize, the George and Margaret Henderson Scholarship, and the Dorothy Ryder-Phillips Award.

During his studies in Sydney, he also worked with Clemens Leske. Prior to this, he studied piano performance at the University of Auckland under Professors Sarah Watkins and Rae de Lisle, and has additionally worked with Jason Bae.

Alongside his piano studies, Channing has pursued conducting studies with Karen Grylls in Auckland, and with Stephen Williams and Elizabeth Scott at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music.

He has participated in masterclasses with distinguished artists including Glenn Riddle, Rita Reichmann, Giulio Biddau, and Anna Fedorova.

Channing is a laureate of numerous international competitions, including the Aegio International Piano Competition (Canada), the Nomea International Piano Competition (Spain), the Sydney Conservatorium of Music Concerto Competition, the Paderewski in Memoriam International Piano Competition, the London Youth Piano Competition, and the Chopin Avenue International Piano Competition.

In 2021, he was awarded a scholarship through the Aegio International Piano Competition to attend the Bellissimo International Piano Festival, where he studied with James Anagnoson, Sijing Ye, and Joanna Sochacka. In 2022, his success at the Chopin Avenue International Piano Competition led to a scholarship to the Chopin Avenue Summer School, where he worked with Andrzej Pikul, Magdalena Lisak, and Kate Lee. That same year, he made his Polish debut with performances at NOSPR and in the UNESCO City of Music.