• My journey with the violin began at the age of four and a half in China. After many years of study as a passionate pursuit, I was admitted to the Xi’an Conservatory of Music in 2013, where I studied under Professor Quhua Li, Chair of the String Department. There, I also met Dr. Sunye Fang, who later became my master’s teacher. In 2017, I received a full scholarship and Graduate Assistantship to pursue my Master’s degree at Central Michigan University. After completing the program in two years, I was accepted into the doctoral program at Michigan State University with a full scholarship and fellowship. I studied under the renowned violinist and professor Dmitri Berlinsky, a former winner of the Paganini, Montreal, and Tchaikovsky competitions, and graduated in May 2023.

    Throughout my academic journey, I was fortunate to participate in masterclasses with many distinguished musicians, including Martin Chalifour (Concertmaster of the LA Philharmonic), Alex Kerr (Violin Professor at Indiana University and former Concertmaster of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra), Philippe Quint (Multi-Grammy nominee), and Mikhail Kopelman (Eastman School of Music).

    I also took part in several prestigious music festivals, such as the Bay View Music Festival, the Easton String Music Camp, and the Xi’an-Bowdoin International Music Festival, where I studied, performed, and collaborated with respected artists and fellow musicians from around the world.

    EDUCATION

    • Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) in Violin Performance, under Dmitri Berlinsky, Michigan State University, Michigan, USA (Aug 2019-May 2023)

    • Master of Music (MM) in Violin Performance, under Fangye Sun, Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, Michigan, USA (Aug 2017-May 2019)

    • Bachelor of Art (BA) in Violin Performance, under Qihua Li, Xi’ an Conservatory of Music, Shaanxi, China (Sept 2013-July 2017)

  • 🎻 Solo Performance
    Through years of professional training, I have built a rich solo performance career. My solo recitals include three doctoral degree performances at Michigan State University, along with earlier recitals at Central Michigan University and Xi’an Conservatory of Music. I was also featured as a soloist for the Owosso Musicale at the Shiawassee Arts Center. In 2018, I was selected to perform at the Honors Convocation at Central Michigan University. These experiences taught me not only technical precision, but also how to deeply communicate with my audience through sound, silence, and presence.

    🎶 Chamber Music
    Chamber music has always been one of my greatest joys as a violinist. As the first violinist of the CMU Graduate String Quartet and the Bay View Festival String Quartet, I developed an intimate sense of musical dialogue. I also performed in other ensemble settings like the Trout Quintet and the Latin Blues Quintet for the Michigan Blues Festival. As the one of the group members of Verdehr Fellowship recipent, I performed in the Trio Transformation Trio with my colleges and the M21 New Music Ensemble, bringing to life contemporary works by living composers. These experiences not only expanded my stylistic range but also taught me the value of trust, listening, and shared leadership in smaller musical communities.

    🎼 Orchestral Performance
    My orchestral journey has taken me through a wide range of roles and repertoire, shaping me into a flexible and responsive ensemble player. I have served as Concertmaster of both the Michigan State University Symphony Orchestra and the Central Michigan University Symphony Orchestra, and as Assistant Concertmaster for the Midland Symphony Orchestra. I’ve also held positions such as Principal Second and sectional violinist with several professional and festival orchestras, including the Jackson, Holland, Lansing, and Adrian Symphony Orchestras. These opportunities have allowed me to perform a diverse range of music—from classical symphonies and operas to Broadway musicals and film scores—enriching my musical adaptability and sharpening my ensemble sensitivity. Many of these roles were earned through competitive auditions, which have strengthened my confidence and performance under pressure.

    🤝 Community Engagement & Gig Performance
    Giving back through music has been an essential part of my journey. As a member of the CMU Graduate String Quartet, I performed outreach concerts at venues such as Immanuel Village Retirement Home and the Isabella Community Medical Facility, bringing comfort and joy to senior residents through live music. I also took part in the Morey Senior Outreach Concert and supported young musicians by volunteering at the Midland Middle School Orchestra String Clinic. Additionally, I performed at university events such as the Fire Up for Excellence Campaign Kick-Off, sharing music in celebration of community and achievement.

    Beyond these service-oriented experiences, I’ve played in a variety of professional gigs, from weddings and receptions to welcome parties—collaborating with other musicians and adapting to a wide range of musical styles and atmospheres. These moments continually remind me of music’s power to connect, uplift, and serve.

  • With over 8 years of teaching experience, I have worked with students of all ages and levels, from young beginners to advanced players, both in-person and online. My teaching journey began during college and has grown to include a wide variety of settings, like private one-on-one lessons, group classes, orchestra sectionals, and chamber music coaching.

    I currently serve as an Ambassador violin instructor through online teaching platform—Superprof (Click here to check my page and student reviews: https://www.superprof.com/expert-guidance-for-adult-beginner-and-intermediate-advanced-learners-prepare-for-recitals-auditions-competitions-college.html

    focusing on adult learners and intermediate to advanced students worldwide. In the U.S., I’ve taught at respected institutions including the Jackson Symphony Orchestra Community Music School, Flint School of Performing Arts, and Marshall Music Co. I also held a graduate assistantship at Central Michigan University, where I taught both non-music majors and music minors, led string technique classes, and supported ensemble rehearsals. Earlier in my career, I served as an orchestra violin instructor in China.

    After years of learning and exploring, I’ve found that I am especially passionate about and skilled at teaching adult beginners and intermediate to advanced players, helping them prepare for recitals, competitions, auditions, college applications, and beyond. Having personally gone through all of these stages with success, I offer my students not only guidance but also insight grounded in real experience. I teach fluently in both English and Mandarin and strive to tailor each lesson to support every student's unique musical journey.

    • Walter Verdehr and Elsa Ludewig-Verdehr Trio Endowment recipient, Michigan State University, Michigan (April, 2023)

    • Gold Medalist, Grand Metropolitan International Music Competition (2022)

    • First Prize, Veha Chamichian String Competition, Central Michigan University, Michigan (March, 2018) 

    • First prize, The first youth violin performance event in Shannxi Province, Xi’an. China. (2016) 

    • National Scholarship, Xi’ an Conservatory of Music, Shaanxi, China. (2015-2016)

    • National Scholarship, Xi’ an Conservatory of Music, Shaanxi, China. (2014-2015)

    • First Prize, The First Youth Violin Performance Event in Shannxi Province, Xi’an, China. (2016) 

    • Fist Prize, Beethoven Sonata Class in the 2014 HongKong International String Competition, HongKong. (2014)

    • Third Prize,  The Forth Instruments Competition, Youth Class, Xi’an, China. (2014)

  • Beyond my work as a violinist and educator, I’ve also gained valuable experience in arts administration, community outreach, and digital content creation. I’ve worked as a recruiter for the Jackson Symphony Orchestra Community Music School, helping identify and connect with potential young violin students—demonstrating my ability to build meaningful community relationships.

    As an Institutional Gifts intern with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, I contributed to grant research and proposal writing, honing my skills in fundraising and nonprofit development.

    I also served as an Event Coordinator at the Michigan Institute for Contemporary Art, where I managed everything from website design and gallery operations to volunteer training and sponsor communications. These roles reflect my strengths in organization, communication, and creativity—qualities that extend far beyond the stage.

    In addition, I create engaging short-form content for both English and Mandarin-speaking audiences on platforms like TikTok (@lilyzhuviolin) and 小红书 (Rednote) @781422947), where I share violin practice tips, performance videos, gear reviews, and expressive styling with makeup and fashion. These projects reflect my skill of video editing, audio editing, social media management, passion for connecting with people and presenting classical music in a fresh and relatable way.