Le Yu has travelled the world as a soloist, chamber musician and teacher.
Born in China, Le began his percussion studies at age 14 at the Xi’an Conservatory of Music High School with Prof. YaGuang Liu. In 2007 Le commenced his studies at the Royal Northern College of Music with a full scholarship and in 2012 earned his Master of Music with Distinction and Bachelor of Music with Honours . In 2013 July Le received the first RNCM’s prestigious International Artist Diploma in Solo Percussion. His studies were sponsored by Yamaha.
Le has collaborated with Keiko Abe, Dame Evelyn Glennie, Ian Wright, Simone Rebello, Eric Sammut and Michael Burritt. In 2016, Le Yu was the soloist for the World Percussion Group and was made an Honorary Associate Artist of the RNCM. He is the adjudicator of the Chinese National Percussion Competition and the South Percussion International Competition.
Le Yu has earned accolades in various competitions around the world, including the Gold Medal of China National Youth Percussion Competition in Shanghai; the Winner of the 7th Italy International Percussion Competition, Best Percussion Award with Brighouse and Rastrick Brass Band at 2012 World Brass in Concert, the winner of RNCM Concerto Competition in 2007, 2009 and 2014 and Solo Percussion Competition 2008 and 2010. Le won the first prize at the 2013 Yamaha Music Foundation of Europe Scholarship Competition in London.
Le performs in many concert halls in the UK and Worldwide such as Wigmore Hall, The Sage Gateshead, KKL Luzern, The Bridgewater Hall, Royal Festival Hall, Purcell Room, St. David’s Hall, Royal Albert Hall, Queen Elizabeth Hall, Volkswagen Lounge, Xi’an Concert Hall, Shanghai Concert Hall, Yamaha Hall Tokyo. He has also Performed on BBC Radio 3, BBC Radio 2, BBC Radio Manchester, BBC Chinese, HZTV(China) and CCTV Music. He made his debut Tour in Switzerland opening the Lucerne International Chamber Music Series in 2014.
As a concerto soloist, Le has performed the Rosauro Marimba Concerto at the CCTV (China Central Television) Summer Music Festival, and with the RNCM String Orchestra on their 2010 Tour of China also at the RNCM Day of Percussion. In 2011 he has performed Keiko Abe’s Prism Rhapsody 2 with RNCM Wind Orchestra. And in June 2013 Le has performed Koppel Marimba Concerto with Manchester Camerata at the Chester Music Festival. In May 2015 Le UK premiered Keiko Abe’s The Wave with RNCM Symphony Orchestra in Manchester and was invited to play the same concerto with Lucerne Symphony Orchestra at KKL Lucerne, Switzerland in March 2016.
Since 2010, Le Yu has been an Endorser and Performing Artist of Encore Mallets Inc, Encore have made his signature mallets in May 2015. he is also a Yamaha Artist and a Sabian Artist. Le Yu is currently the Deputy Director of Percussion at the Royal Northern College of Music.
