Ms. Xiaomu Fang began cello studies at the age of eight and received her formal training at the Central Conservatory of Music in China. In 1996, Xiaomu moved to the United States and studied with Professor Eleonore Schoenfeld at the University of Southern California on full scholarship. Since moving to Los Angeles, she has been the First-Prize Winner of numerous competitions, including the Pasadena Instrumental Solo Competition, the Young Musician Foundation’s 42nd Annual Solo Competition, the Chinese American National Showcase Solo Competition, the University of Southern California Concerto Competition, the American String Teachers’ Association Solo Competition, and the Brentwood-Westwood Orchestra Solo Competition. As a winner for three consecutive years, Ms. Fang received Fellowship Grants Awards from the Los Angeles Philharmonic’s Excellence in Diversity Program from 1996-1999. She was also awarded First-Prize in the Mu Phi Epsilon International Fraternity Scholarship and Sigma Alpha Iota International Music Fraternity Awards.

During her years in Los Angeles, Xiaomu has performed as soloist with the Pacific Symphony Orchestra, the Young Musician’s Foundation Debut Orchestra, the Brentwood-Westwood Orchestra, and the USC Symphony under the baton of guest-conductor Maestro Segiu Comissiona.

Xiaomu studied at The Juilliard School with Professor Harvey Shapiro on full scholarship and graduated in 2003. She was the Principal Cellist of both The Juilliard Symphony and The Juilliard Opera Orchestra. Also an active chamber musician, she performs frequently at the Lincoln Center in New York with her piano trio and string quartet.

In 2000, Xiaomu was invited as one of the 35 outstanding cellists from all over the world to participate in the master classes and concert series of the World Cello Congress III. In the same year she was chosen to participate in the New York String Orchestra Seminar, including two concerts at Carnegie Hall.

In 2002, Xiaomu was the First-Prize winner of the Five Towns Music String Competition in New York, and was also a winner of the Olga Koussevitzky Competition for Strings. She was the Cello Award winner of the Artists International Presentation’s 30th Annual Award Competition which resulted in her New York recital début at Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall in May 2003, receiving great critical acclaim.

From 2005-2007 Xiaomu was the Principal Assistant Cellist of the China Philharmonic Orchestra, and performed the Concerto Grosso for Three Violoncelli by Krzystof Penderecki with the orchestra in December 2006 to great acclaim. She toured with the China Philharmonic Orchestra to give concerts in countries including the United States, Canada, Italy, Germany, UK, Croatia and Singapore.

In April 2007 Xiaomu was invited to play a solo recital at Lincoln Center’s Alice Tully Hall in New York, winning again the highest acclaim from both the audience and the press. For her extraordinary talent and contribution to the world of music, the New York State Assembly of the United States awarded her the “Outstanding Achievement in Arts and Culture Award” in April 2007. Xiaomu was the first Asian musician to receive this award.

Xiaomu joined the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra in 2008 as the Co-Principal Cellist. She was invited to play another solo recital at the distinguished Carnegie Hall’s Zankel Hall in New York in April, 2008. After a highly acclaimed performance, she was immediately invited back to play another solo recital at the new Alice Tully Hall at the Lincoln Center in New York.

Xiaomu has been presented as soloist with the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra, receiving great acclamation. She also frequently participated in chamber music concerts with musicians from the HK Phil.

Xiaomu has been working with world-renowned conductors including Maestro Jaap van Zweden, Edo de Waart, Lorin Maazel, Vladimir Ashkenazy, David Zinman, Mark Wigglesworth and Sir Mark Elder. She also worked with numerous renowned artists such as Anne-Sophie Mutter, Ning Feng, Emanuel Ax, Lang Lang, Yundi Li, Jian Wang, Yo-Yo Ma, Gil Shaham, Sumi Jo and Renee Fleming.