Biography
Canadian-born pianist, Thomas Yu, is one of the most versatile artists. In the last 4 years he has performed in such prestigious venues as Carnegie Hall in New York City, Salle Gaveau and Salle Cortot in Paris, Glenn Gould Studio in Toronto, Chopin Music Academy in Warsaw, Bösendorfer Hall in Vienna and the Chan Centre for Performing Arts in Vancouver. He continues to delight audiences across four continents while maintaining a full-time career as a periodontist.
Yu is a winner of three international piano competitions, including the Bradshaw & Buono International Piano Competition in New York, the Bösendorfer International Piano Competition for Amateurs in Vienna, as well as the International Competition for Outstanding Piano Amateurs in Paris, where he took first prize along with the Press Award and Audience Award. Yu is also a winner of several national competitions, including the Canadian Music Competition and the Canadian Federation of Music Teacher’s Association Piano Competition. In addition to his musical pursuits, Dr. Yu obtained his DMD with Great Distinction from the University of Saskatchewan. He then went on to complete a residency at Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto, and recently obtained his Master Degree in Periodontics at the University of Toronto. He now owns a private practice in Calgary, and teaches at the Foothills Medical Hospital.
Yu has been featured on CBC, Bravo!, TV5 and France 2 television. He has also recorded with CBC, Classical 96.3FM and Radio Classique. Yu has received accolades from the Governor General of Canada, Lietuenant Governor of Saskatchewan as well as the Mayor of Toronto. To celebrate their 100th anniversary, the University of Saskatchewan has named Yu as one of the school’s top 100 most influential alumni. Photographer Tony Hauser has also included Yu in his book, The Power of Passion, which features prominent Canadians such as Adrienne Clarkson, Richard Bradshaw, Stephen Lewis, Pinkas Zuckerman and David Suzuki.
A pupil of Bonnie Nicholson for several years, Yu spent six years as a private student at the Glenn Gould Professional School of Music in Toronto with esteemed pedagogue Marc Durand. During his academic training, Yu continued his musical endeavors at the Banff Centre for the Arts, working with Leion Fleisher, Julian Martin, Robin Harrison and the late Marek Jablonski. As a laureate of the 2nd Canadian Chopin Competition, Yu also competed in the 15th International Chopin Competition in Warsaw, Poland.