As an accomplished violinist, Tianjie Lu was appointed as a tenured violinist by Maestro Andrés Orozco-Estrada in the Houston Symphony, a world-renowned, Grammy Award-winning orchestra. In this prestigious role, he has collaborated with many of the most distinguished musicians across the globe.

Tianjie Lu was born in the coastal city of Qingdao, China. His musical journey began at the age of four, when his father, Lin Lu, introduced him to the violin. Tianjie’s exceptional talent quickly became evident. By the age of ten, he had earned a spot as one of just eight violinists selected for admission to the Middle School affiliated with the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing, chosen from a highly competitive pool of hundreds of candidates.

Tianjie Lu’s exceptional talent and dedication soon led to international opportunities. He pursued his Bachelor of Music degree at the Mannes School of Music in New York, where he studied under the esteemed pedagogue Sally Thomas, one of the last of Ivan Galamian‘s Golden Age assistants. During his time at Mannes, Tianjie continued to refine his artistry, spending the summers of 2008, 2009, and 2010 at the Music Academy of the West in Santa Barbara on a full scholarship, studying once again under the mentorship of Kathleen Winkler.

In 2012, Tianjie was awarded a full scholarship to attend the Meadowmount Music School. There, he not only deepened his studies but also served as a teaching assistant to Sally Thomas. His teaching was widely praised by his students, who greatly benefited from his musical and technical expertise, reflecting his profound influence on the next generation of violinists.

Following his graduation from New York, Tianjie Lu was admitted to the Shepherd School of Music at Rice University, where he received a full scholarship to pursue his Master of Music degree. Under the continued mentorship of Kathleen Winkler, his artistry reached new heights. In 2014, he earned second prize in the prestigious Ruth Burr Music Competition, further solidifying his reputation as a highly skilled and accomplished violinist. The following year, he was selected to compete in the International Violin Competition “Premio Paganini” in Italy, one of the most distinguished violin competitions in the world.