Sophie Gu

• 3rd place - Los Angeles Semifinals of Music International Grand Prix - Jan 2023
• - Attended Boston University Tanglewood Institute's Young Artists Vocal Program - summer 2022
• Quarter-finalist - CS Vocal - May 2022
• Quarter-finalist - Schmidt - Mar 2022
• 1st place - Golden Statuette International Film Festival - ‘Nessun Dorma’ - Oct 2017
• 2nd place - Silicon Valley Music International Art Competition - 'Nessun Dorma' - Feb 2017
• 2nd place - International Culture Little Angel Competition - ‘O mio babbino caro’ - TV appearance (International Chinese Network) 2015
• 1st place - Water Cube Cup Overseas Chinese Youth Competition (SF regionals) - ‘我爱你中国’
• Offered scholarship to Interlochen Arts Academy's Voice and Opera Summer Program
• Instructed free music theory seminar through the international nonprofit Wave Learning Festival

Sophie loves music and would like to double major in biology and music. She has completed the ABRSM Grade 8 piano exam, the Taiwan Grade 7 Chinese zither (Guzheng) exam with distinction, and taken AP Music Theory, honors choir, and Audio Music Production at school.

Sophie aspires to be a physician involved in public health policy and advocacy. She is a class of 2023 rising senior and has a 4.4 weighted GPA. Outside of school, she volunteers at Stanford Children’s Hospital, competes in Science Olympiad (a team-based competition) with a focus on biology and chemistry, and manages the school's varsity badminton team.

In her free time, you can find her singing, around town with her best friend, volunteering at dog adoption events, reading a book, tending to the garden, or experimenting in the kitchen.

Musical training/Ensemble experience:

- Involved in school production of Mamma Mia (2023)

- Attended Boston University Tanglewood Institute's 6-week Young Artist Vocal Program (2022)

At Tanglewood, placed into the highest-level classes for music theory, diction, and vocal literature

At Tanglewood, sang both Soprano 1 and 2 parts in the Young Artist Vocal Program's choir

At Tanglewood, performed leading role in the "Papageno/Papagena Duet" scene from The Magic Flute.

- Studied privately with current teacher, Natasha Czajka, from February 2021

- Coached by Kira Kaplan, from June 2022

- During sophomore year in high school, took AP Music Theory and Audio & Music Production classes (2020-21)

- Sung in high school's advanced choir during sophomore year (2020-21)

- Passed ABRSM Grade 8/highest ABRSM grade piano exam (2019)

- Passed Taiwanese Grade 7 exam for GuZheng/Chinese harp (2016)

Some of Sophie’s current/recent repertoire includes (reverse chronological):

- Chevaux de bois - Debussy

- Spring - Argento

- Mandoline - Debussy

- Solvejg's Song - Grieg

- I Hate Music - Bernstein

- O del mio dolce ardor - Gluck

- My Heart Is Like A Singing Bird - Parry