Jadon Wu, an eleventh grader at Orange County School of the Arts (OCSA), is a delightful pianist whose dedication and talents have led him to remarkable achievements. Under the guidance of wonderful teachers, Jadon has won numerous awards and prizes since his Carnegie Hall debut at the age of nine. He is a five-time consecutive Gold Medalist of the Southern California Junior Bach Festival Complete Works, showcasing his proficiency in various categories such as the Well-Tempered Clavier I, Toccata, Italian Concerto, Sinfonia & Invention, and Short Preludes & Fugues. Jadon is also a seven-time winner of the Steinway Society of Riverside Piano Competition and an eight-time First Prize winner of the Inland Empire Piano Festival across all divisions and levels.

Known for captivating audiences – “We are hanging onto every note!” – Jadon's accolades extend to being a First Prize recipient of the International Keyboard Odyssiad Piano Competition, Distinguished Gold Medalist of the Seattle Bach International Piano Festival, and Grand Prize winner of the Satori Young Piano Competition. Jadon has also received honors in the Music Teachers’ Association of California (MTAC) solo and concerto competition as well as the California Association of Professional Music Teachers (CAPMT) concerto competition. Most recently, Jadon attained First Prize awards in the International Association of Professional Music Teachers (IAPMT) Concours Grand Prix, Bellagrande International Music Competition, Bay Area Piano Competition, Antelope Valley Symphony Orchestra Concerto Competition, and Los Angeles Youth Philharmonic Concerto Competition, where he will perform at the Walt Disney Concert Hall this summer. Jadon will also perform with the Saddleback Symphony Orchestra and the Antelope Valley Symphony Orchestra in the Spring.

Since his musical journey began, Jadon has had the honor of participating in masterclasses with wonderful, world-renowned pianists including Dmitry Rachmanov, Kevin Fitz-Gerald, Wojciech Kocyan, Giorgi Latso, Nelms McKelvain, Craig Richey, Anna Fedorova, Bernadene Blaha, Robert Palmer, Catherine Kautsky, and Antoinette Perry. In addition to masterclasses, Jadon is part of a chamber ensemble. He enjoys collaborating with artists in different disciplines and various styles of music, including accompanying vocal performances.

Jadon’s passion for music and his desire to see people healed has led him to create a group called “Mending Melodies” to bring music to seniors and those with disabilities and/or long-term illnesses. He performs in senior centers, convalescent homes, and private homes. He has also been invited by the Steinway Society of Riverside to perform in fundraisers supporting music education to children.

In his spare time, Jadon enjoys listening to music, reading, and playing hockey & badminton. He also enjoys Taekwondo, in which he holds a black belt.

Gargoyles Op. 29, No. 1 by Lowell Liebermann