Helen Yu

Helen is studying at the New England Conservatory (NEC) in Boston with Donald Weilerstein for her master’s degree in violin performance with expected graduation in May 2024.

Helen was born and raised in Hong Kong. She graduated her bachelor’s degree with first class honors from the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts (HKAPA), where she studied with Michael Ma. She is also a graduate from St. Paul’s Co-educational College.

Helen receives the dean's scholarship from NEC and full scholarship and stipend from the Hong Kong Jockey Club Music and Dance Fund. During this school year, she has been invited to audition for the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra Associate Concertmaster position, Philadelphia Orchestra and Chicago Symphony Orchestra section violin positions. During 2023 fall, she was appointed as the concertmaster for the NEC Philharmonia. In 2022-2023, her piano trio won the NEC Honors Chamber Competition and she was the concertmaster of the NEC chamber orchestra.

Back when Helen was studying at HKAPA, she won the Academy Concerto Competition two times - with Sibelius (2019) and Brahms (2021). She was the champion of the Tokyo International Youth Music Competition virtuoso senior class in 2020. She was frequently the concertmaster for the HKAPA academy orchestra. She received 4-year full support from the Hong Kong Jockey Club Scholarship.

Helen actively participates in summer festivals with full scholarships. She has just been invited to attend the Perlman Music Program Chamber Music Workshop as a Young Artist Fellow for 2024 summer. She attended Heifetz International Institute of Music’s chamber music seminar program last summer as a fellow. She attended the Aspen Summer Music Festival two times as a fellow in 2019 and 2020. She also attended Curtis Summerfest in 2019 and performed as a concertmaster.

Helen plays on a violin by Testore, loaned by the Colburn Collection during her time in Boston.