Wu You

Biography

Wu You is a Chinese classical guitarist acclaimed for his outstanding achievements on the international stage. Japanese guitarist Shinichi Fukuda has described him as the “Lang Lang of the guitar world”. He was the first Chinese guitarist to win both the Vienna Guitar Forum International Guitar Competition and the Liechtenstein International Guitar Competition in the same year, establishing a remarkable milestone in the history of Chinese classical guitar.

Throughout his career, Wu You has won numerous prizes in nearly thirty national and international competitions, earning recognition as one of China’s most accomplished classical guitarists.

Education and Early Career

Wu You began studying the guitar at the age of 12 under the guidance of his father, Wu Xiaoping. That same year, he won the open division of a national guitar competition in China, becoming the youngest open-category champion in the country’s guitar competition history.

At the age of 13, he was admitted to the Shanghai Conservatory of Music, where he studied with Professor Ye Dengmin. During his six years of study, he won numerous national and international competitions, including the China Shanghai National Guitar Invitational Competition, the Hubei Guitar Competition, the Tianjin Conservatory of Music’s “Mingya Martini” Cup National Classical Guitar Invitational Competition, and the Shenyang National Guitar Invitational Competition. His early international successes included first prizes at the Kyushu International Guitar Competition in Japan and the Thailand International Guitar Competition.

In 2012, Wu You was admitted with the highest entrance ranking to the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna, Austria, where he studied classical guitar with the renowned guitarist Álvaro Pierri. He was Pierri’s first Chinese student. During his studies in Vienna, Wu You continued to distinguish himself in international competitions, winning nine prizes in open-category events.

International Career and Awards

In 2017, Wu You achieved a landmark double victory, winning the open divisions of both the Vienna Guitar Forum International Guitar Competition and the Liechtenstein International Guitar Competition. He became the first Chinese musician to win both competitions in the same year.

His other notable achievements include prizes at the Singapore International Guitar Competition, the International Guitar Competition in Kutná Hora, Czech Republic, the Taiwan International Guitar Competition, and the Zagreb International Guitar Competition in Croatia. He was also a runner-up at Austria’s International Rising Star Music Competition, where Austrian television described him as the “Chinese Guitar Hero”.

In recognition of his artistic achievements, the Swiss Thyll-Dürr Foundation awarded Wu You its artist prize for several consecutive years, beginning in 2015. European media have also praised him as “the light of the Orient on the guitar”.

Concerts and Teaching

Following his success in Europe, Wu You embarked on more than 50 recital tours across Europe and Asia, performing in countries including Austria, Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Liechtenstein, Romania, Croatia, Japan, South Korea, and Thailand.

In 2018, he performed a chamber music concert at Vienna’s prestigious Golden Hall and was subsequently invited to perform at the Vienna Concertgebouw.

Since 2019, Wu You has been teaching at the Zhejiang Conservatory of Music in China, combining his international performing career with a commitment to music education.