Pianist Rena Murong Wu is currently a graduate student at the University of Michigan School of Music Theatre and Dance. A native of Shenzhen, China, Rena first began her music studies in the U.S. at the New England Conservatory Preparatory School in 2014. During her studies at NEC Prep, she was a member of NEC Prep’s 2016 piano tour in Germany and performed in venues such as Liszt Gartenhaus in Weimar and the Schumannhaus museum in Leipzig. In 2017, she went on to study with Professor Alexander Kobrin at the Eastman School of Music, and attended music festivals such as the Gijon International Piano Festival in Spain and the International Keyboard Institute and Festival in New York City during her undergraduate studies. Upon graduating from Eastman in 2021, Rena now studies at the University of Michigan under the tutelage of Professor Logan Skelton, pursuing her Master’s degrees in both Piano Performance and Chamber Music. Aside from her studies in performance, Rena is also a passionate collaborative pianist and an avid performer of new music. During her time at Eastman, she took part in the Intensive Chamber Seminar, and participated in guest composers chamber music masterclasses and concerts performing their compositions. She is also a current member of the Contemporary Directions Ensemble at the University of Michigan SMTD, studying and performing contemporary music repertoire.

Rena is the recipient of The Gertrude T. Munger Piano Award Fund, The Wilbur D. Forney Memorial Scholarship Fund, The Eleanor B. Daugherty Scholarship Fund, and The Chautauqua General Scholarship.