Peiwen Su: The Soul Behind the Strings — Award-Winning Violinist on Art, Purpose, and the Power of Music
- WOMCO
- 3 hours ago
- 6 min read
Peiwen Su from the United States has been honored with the Best Violinist of the Season and the Distinctive Character Special Award at the International Music Leadership Award 2025 (Season 3). The season ran from June 19 to September 19, 2025, and results were published in October 2025. These prestigious honors recognize not only her exceptional artistry but also her distinctive musical voice and interpretative depth. In this exclusive interview, Peiwen shares her reflections on artistic individuality, the meaning of musicianship in today’s world, and the journey that has shaped her as both a performer and educator.
Receiving the Distinctive Character Special Award highlights the individuality of your performance. How did you go about finding and expressing your own artistic voice through the violin?
Peiwen Su:
"I have always believed that music is far more than a flow of sound—it is a living being, one with flesh, breath, and soul. Art is among the most sincere of mediums; it possesses the power to transcend language and culture, carrying an artist’s deepest emotions, thoughts, and convictions directly to the listener’s heart. To truly speak through one’s instrument, a performer must first confront their inner self—understand the colors of their own character, the longings of their spirit, and the quiet tremors of their most intimate emotions. Only then can one discover, among the great masterpieces, the works that genuinely resonate with one’s inner frequency.
I have always been resolute in my choice of repertoire. I perform only the pieces that speak to my soul, works that draw me into a realm of true artistic communion. Even when faced with assigned or less familiar compositions, I devote myself entirely to them, seeking to reshape them through my own understanding—not through imitation, but through transformation. When I perform, I allow myself to dissolve into the music, to travel back to the composer’s world, to glimpse the stories they wrote between the notes and the pulse of their inner life. What I seek is to let the music breathe once more—to let it live anew.
It is within these subtle layers of emotion and the delicate language of interpretation that each phrase becomes more than a display of technique; it becomes a gentle touch upon the soul. If, in a fleeting moment, the audience feels moved, it is not merely because they have heard music—it is because they have heard me, wholly and unreservedly."
Could you talk to us about yourself, your journey in music, and your future goals? Could you also share your perspective on what defines a great violinist in today’s digital age, and what you consider to be the most significant artistic or professional challenges facing musicians today and in the coming years?
Peiwen Su:
"I have always believed that a truly exceptional violinist is defined not only by flawless technique or refined musicality—those are merely the foundations. What ultimately distinguishes an artist is the depth of their soul, the breadth of their understanding of the world, and the wisdom shaped through encounters with life and society. Once a musician has mastered skill and expression, what I value most is whether they can resonate with the world’s kindness: whether they are intellectual yet empathetic, pure yet perceptive, and willing to offer their music as a form of gratitude and positive force to society. In my view, only those who embody these qualities truly deserve to be called an outstanding violinist of our time. They do not pursue excellence for themselves alone—they seek to gift something meaningful to the world. Such artists earn my deepest respect.
Moreover, greatness is often accompanied by a fierce vitality and an unyielding spirit. The willingness to never give up is essential. Determination and perseverance are the true beginnings of success; what follows is shaped by opportunity and the relentless pursuit of one’s artistic path.
When speaking of the greatest artistic or professional challenges facing today’s and tomorrow’s musicians, I believe the difficulty lies not in mastering technique, but in defining one’s unique path. The number of young musicians is growing rapidly, yet only a few will ultimately become performing artists. The true challenge is this: How does one rise beyond the crowd, build an authentic artistic identity, and create lasting value? Many students grow accustomed to perfecting a piece within the practice room, but once they step outside, they are confronted with the reality of the world.
This is why I encourage young musicians to look beyond the conservatory. In addition to perfecting their craft, they must begin to ask: How can I allow music to live beyond the stage? How can I transform what I love into what I can sustain throughout my life? For a true musical life is not confined to performance—it endures through influence, purpose, and the devotion to share one’s gift with humanity."
Would you like to share your experience participating in our competition and anyone you'd like to thank?
Peiwen Su:
"I carry a profound sense of gratitude for the mentors who shaped me long before I ever stepped onto international stages—those who believed in me when I was still searching for my voice. During my formative years in Taiwan, I was guided by Guoliang Ni, Geoffrey Yeh, and Yuwen Chen; later, at the Oberlin Conservatory, I had the privilege of studying under the legendary Marilyn McDonald, and during my master’s studies at USC, under the inspiring mentorship of Lina Bahn.
I can say with absolute certainty: without them, I would not be the artist I am today.
Their influence went far beyond technique or interpretation. They taught me not only how to play, but how to think—how to question, how to listen, and how to build a musical identity with depth and integrity. They often reminded me that while technique can be mastered, it is thought that gives it meaning; that sound may be remembered, but it is the soul behind it that truly moves people.
They encouraged me to be conscious, to be fearless, to break boundaries— to engage with music not as a performer, but as a living, thinking artist.
Each of them stood by me through different chapters of my journey—pushing me through moments of doubt, challenging me to grow, and offering the kind of guidance that can only come from true devotion to the art. They were not just teachers; they were architects of my artistic character, the unseen pillars supporting my path. What they gave me was not merely education, but conviction—that to be a musician with a soul is a lifelong pursuit.
Today, no matter where I perform or what music I share with the world, I know this:
with every stroke of the bow, they are there, within every note I play."
Biography
Peiwen Su is the Executive Director of both the California Youth Music Competition and the
Ascend.CYMC International Music Festival. She also serves as conductor of the Torrance Arts
Academy Youth Orchestra. Under her leadership, these events feature a world-class jury panel composed of professors from top conservatories, ARD International Music Competition jurors, Steinway artists, and laureates of major international competitions. In recent years, she has gained international recognition as a performer, receiving top honors such as the Grand Prize at the World Artist Award, Distinguished Violinist of the Season from the International Music Leadership Award, and First Prizes at both the Berlioz International Music Competition and the Vivaldi International Music Competition. In partnership with the City of Claremont, Peiwen has built a global-caliber platform that connects the next generation of musicians with the highest levels of artistic mentorship and stage experience. Her work as a cultural entrepreneur and advocate for youth music education has been spotlighted in Canvas Rebel, New York Weekly, Los Angeles Wire, and China Entrepreneur Magazine. In 2025, her ensemble, the Liora Trio, was invited to perform at Glendale’s historic First Baptist Church to a full house, further cementing her role as a cultural force in Los Angeles.
Peiwen is also a distinguished violinist and educator whose career bridges elite performance and innovative pedagogy. A laureate of the 2020 Oberlin Conservatory Concerto Competition, she holds degrees from Oberlin Conservatory and the USC Thornton School of Music. In 2025, she was honored as Outstanding Alumna of the Year by Oberlin Conservatory and invited back as a guest speaker to share insights into building a purposeful career in the music industry. Her recent international awards further solidify her artistic voice on the global stage, affirming her dual identity as both a cultural leader and a performing artist of distinction.
Peiwen has performed at some of the most iconic venues in the United States, including the
Richard Nixon Presidential Library, Hollywood Walk of Fame, Warner Bros. Scoring Stage, and EastWest Studios. She was featured as a violinist in a 2023 Hollywood crossover production with Grammy-winning artist Zedd and cast members of Stranger Things, showcasing her versatility across both classical and contemporary genres. Beyond her solo work, she is a deeply collaborative chamber musician, an artistic director with curatorial vision, and a dynamic presence in both the concert hall and the recording studio. As a multifaceted artist, Peiwen bridges performance, production, education, and cultural leadership — embodying the spirit of a truly modern and complete musician.
