Alan (XuKun) Liu, born in December of 2001, is the 4th prize winner of the prestigious 2021 Guitar Foundation of America International Concert Artist Competition.

Liu received his first national prize in Beijing in 2009. At 12 years old, Liu won 1st prize in the GFA International Youth Competition Junior Division and Guitar Montreal International Youth Competition (2014). He won his first adult competition at the Northwest Guitar Festival, placed 2nd in the Parkening International Youth Guitar Competition, and debuted in the Vancouver Orpheum at 13 years old (2015). In 2016, Liu won 2nd prize at the GFA International Youth Competition Senior Division and 1st prize in the Canadian National Music Festival (FMCF). In addition to being the youngest guitar winner at the Canadian Nationals (FMCF), he is also one of the youngest Grand Award prize winners. Liu has collected additional awards in North America, Europe, and Asia, including the recent 1st prizes in the XVIII Mercatali Gorizia International Guitar Competition (2021), Houston International Guitar Competition (2021), and Philadelphia Classical Guitar Competition (2021).

Featured as the rst classical guitarist in CBC’s “30 Hot Classical Musicians Under 30” (2016), Liu regularly performs solo and chamber music in Canada, the USA, and China. He has also played with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra and Prince George Symphony Orchestra. Liu was a featured artist at the Montreal International Guitar Festival (2015) and a featured artist & juror in the QinLing International Guitar Festival (2018 & 2019).

A senior at the Curtis Institute of Music, Liu is studying with David Starobin and Jason Vieaux. He works periodically with Daniel Bolshoy & Rene Izquierdo and has studied with Michael Partington & Jonathan Leathwood. Liu’s first two teachers were Ping Jin & Xia Yang. Additionally, he has participated in numerous masterclasses.

Liu performs on a 2018 Martin Blackwell double-top. He is an Altamira Artist.