Le Yu
Professor of Marimba
International Markets Consultant
Professor in Percussion
Le Yu has travelled the world as a soloist, chamber musician and a educator. He has collaborated with Keiko Abe, Dame Evelyn Glennie, Ian Wright, Simone Rebello, Eric Sammut and Michael Burritt. In 2016, Le was the soloist for the World Percussion Group and was made an Associate Member of the RNCM in 2020. He is the adjudicator of the Chinese National Percussion Competition and the South Percussion International Competition.
Le’s accolades include the Gold Medal of China National Youth Percussion Competition in Shanghai, First Prize at the seventh Italy International Percussion Competition, the Best Percussion Award with Brighouse and Rastrick Brass Band at the 2012 World Brass in Concert, the RNCM Concerto Competition on three occasions, and the Solo Percussion Competition twice. He also won First Prize at the 2013 Yamaha Music Foundation of Europe Scholarship Competition in London.
Le performs in concert halls worldwide, including Wigmore Hall, 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 and 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 début tour in Switzerland opening the Lucerne International Chamber Music Series in 2014.
As a concerto soloist, Le has performed with National Symphony Orchestra of Mexico, Beijing Symphony Orchestra, Luzern Symphony Orchestra, Xi’an Symphony Orchestra, Oquesta Sinfonica de Mineria, Manchester Camerata, BBC Singers, Brighouse and Rastrick Brass Band and Shenyang Symphony Orchestra.
Le is an excellent chamber musician and is founder of the Aurora Percussion Duo alongside Delia Stevens. Following their win at the 2012 Royal Over-Seas League Competition, Aurora was asked to perform for the Royal Family at Queen Elizabeth Hall. They were also invited to play at the 2013 Edinburgh Festival, Brighton Music Festival, Newbury International Music Festival, Festival No 6 and, among others, the Buxton Music Festival. Aurora also won the 2013 Park Lane Group New Year Young Artist Series.
Born in China, Le began his percussion studies aged 14 at the Xi’an Conservatory of Music High School with Professor YaGuang Liu. In 2007 he commenced his studies at the RNCM 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 RNCM’s first International Artist Diploma in Solo Percussion. His studies were sponsored by Yamaha.
Since 2010, Le has been an endorser and performing artist of Encore Mallets Inc. which made his signature mallets in 2015. He is also a Yamaha Artist and a Sabian Artist.
