Kiki Xiaoman Liu is a Chinese composer and pianist, currently completing her Master of Music in Composition at Mannes School Of Music, studying under Professor Huang Ruo.
Kiki Xiaoman Liu embarked on her musical journey at the age of 8, with the piano as her primary instrument. By her third year of piano study, she discovered a passion for music composition, which has remained with her ever since.
She has been studying music composition for over a decade, starting in junior high at The Music Middle School Affiliated with the Shanghai Conservatory of Music. Graduated with a Bachelor degree of Music Composition at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM), where she was awarded the CCM Composition Scholarship.
Kiki’s music has been performed at the Mannes Composers Concert Series, Cincinnati New Music Concert, Guangzhou Conservatory of Music, and Shanghai Conservatory of Music.
Her compositions combine contemporary Western techniques with ancient Oriental culture, drawing inspiration from nature and daily life. She explores a range of ensembles, showcasing her versatility across orchestral, chamber, and solo formats. Kiki's works feature energetic, rhythmic, and profound harmonies, blending classical and modern elements into a distinctive musical language.
An accomplished pianist, she earned the Gold Medal at the Hunan Provincial Young People’s Piano Competition in 2010, and has professional experience arranging in non-classical genres as well.
Neon Solitude, for soprano and string quartet.
New York is a city of contrasts—the blinding lights of bustling streets and the hidden corners of silence. The vibrancy of neon glows against moments of profound isolation. This piece seeks to capture both the city’s relentless energy and its quiet loneliness.
2024 CCM Orchestra Reading
Patterns is a five-movement set of piano miniatures that embarks on a journey through contrasting musical landscapes,each movement representing an unique facet of emotion and experience.
Vortex, trio for violin, French horn and piano.
The universe is a vast vortex where everything in our lives is interconnected. The shape of the vortex can take on various forms—streamlined, circular, or otherwise—each reflecting our feelings. This piece captures the connections and collisions between these emotions.
My string quartet explores juxtaposition of lyricism and energy within a single, unified movement.
Three Chinese songs
Desert Capriccio for flute solo explores the essence of both the
tranquility and the capricious nature of a desert environment.
Mirage for clarinet and piano seeks to capture the beauty of the mirage in a dramatic and impactful manner. Through ever changing textures, the piece invites the listener to reflect on the transient and mysterious qualities of these fleeting optical illusions.
Spark, trio for flute, viola, and harp, illuminates the darkness and the path to a world of infinite possibility. It presents the essence of fluidity, and harmony.