Schubert's Fantasia in F minor for piano duet, D. 940, served as the centerpiece for the Carnegie Hall debut of a ten-year-old musician on October 27, 2009. Performing alongside the established pianist Lang Lang, the young artist demonstrated a command of the repertoire that drew significant international attention to his technical abilities and early professional trajectory.
Foundations of Musical Development
Born on January 5, 1999, in Monterey Park, California, Marc Yu began his musical training at the age of three years and 11 months. By the time he reached age six, he added the cello to his repertoire and commenced formal lessons. Possessing perfect pitch, he demonstrated cognitive abilities that extended into academic disciplines; by age seven, he had progressed to high school-level mathematics. His education was primarily conducted through homeschooling, where his mother provided instruction in English, Mandarin, and Yue Chinese, as well as Chinese calligraphy.
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Public recognition of his talent arrived through various media platforms. He made appearances on television programs including The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and The Ellen DeGeneres Show, the latter of which featured him receiving an accordion. His abilities were also documented in the National Geographic special titled My Brilliant Brain. In 2005, he reached a milestone in academic and talent recognition when he became the youngest recipient of a Davidson Fellow scholarship.
Professional Collaborations and Education
Yu identifies the Chinese pianist Lang Lang as his musical idol. The two musicians have performed publicly together on two occasions. Their first joint appearance took place at the Proms in London on August 31, 2008. Following their subsequent Carnegie Hall performance in 2009, Yu continued his education at The Nueva School in San Francisco. By 2017, he was pursuing a major in film scoring at the Berklee College of Music.
Fast facts
- Born: January 5, 1999
- Birthplace: Monterey Park, California
- Instruments: Piano, cello
- Citizenship: People's Republic of China
- Proms debut: August 31, 2008
- Carnegie Hall debut: October 27, 2009
- 2005 Davidson Fellow scholarship recipient
- Higher education: Berklee College of Music
Questions readers ask
What instruments does Marc Yu play?
He plays both the piano and the cello.
Where did Marc Yu attend college?
As of 2017, he was a student at the Berklee College of Music, majoring in film scoring.
With whom did Marc Yu perform his Carnegie Hall debut?
He performed the Schubert Fantasia in F minor with the pianist Lang Lang.
Achievements
- Began playing piano before age four
- Youngest Davidson Fellow at the time (2005)
- Carnegie Hall debut at age 10 with Lang Lang (2009)
- Featured in National Geographic's 'My Brilliant Brain'
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