James Liu

Subject: Piano
Role: Deputy Head of School 

James Liu is a highly sought-after pianist and seasoned piano educator renowned for his exceptional musical prowess and pedagogical expertise. Embarking on his musical odyssey at the tender age of 6, James swiftly distinguished himself with innate musical talents. His early accolades include clinching first place in the concerto section and securing the prestigious first runner-up position at the junior piano competition in Suzhou, China.

Formally honing his craft under the mentorship of Pro. Yiqing Xue at the School of Music, Nanjing Normal University, James furthered his musical education upon relocating to New Zealand. Graduating with distinction from the University of Auckland, James attained a Bachelor of Music degree, majoring in classical performance, under the guidance of Stephen De Pledge. He is currently completing his Master of Music degree at the University of Auckland. He is an esteemed member of both the Institute of Registered Music Teachers New Zealand (IRMTNZ) and the Asia Pacific Musician Association (APMA).

James has lent his exceptional talents as a rehearsal and concert pianist to various choirs in Auckland, including the Music Association of Auckland (MAA), the GALS Choir, and the Auckland University Student Choir (AUSC). Notable among his professional achievements is his distinguished performance of Schumann's Piano Concerto in A Minor with the Saint-Petersburg Youth Orchestra in Russia in 2018. Currently, he collaborates with the Pakuranga Choral Society under the baton of director David Hamilton; he also regularly performs with instrumentalists and vocalists at concerts, competitions, and exams, exploring a range of repertoire within and beyond the classical tradition.

As an educator, James epitomises excellence, offering comprehensive instruction in piano technique and musical theory to students of all ages and proficiency levels. Fluent in both English and Chinese, he delivers bilingual instruction and excels in cultivating sight-reading and aural skills. James is deeply passionate about imparting his musical knowledge and performance insights, fervently believing in each student's inherent musical potential. He provides unwavering support and inspiration on their musical voyage, consistently guiding them to achieve remarkable success in various music competitions throughout New Zealand. Under his tutelage, students have consistently attained exemplary results in the ABRSM and Trinity exams, garnering numerous accolades in local competition circuits. 

In addition to playing and teaching, as the deputy head of Blockhouse Bay School of Music, James and Mr Canwei, head of BHBSM, co-lead the school's full operations, aiming to provide a more comfortable and trustworthy environment and services for teachers and students. James leads the school's teaching, curriculum design and launch, event planning and marketing. The ABRSM Grade 5 Music Theory Crash Course and Performance Class he designed received much positive and meaningful feedback. He and Canwei have been committed to the long-term stability and development of music school education, striving to ensure high-quality music teaching while also taking into account effective and sustainable business patterns.