2016-2017 ASU student carillonneur named

Mengyu Liu, an Arizona State University freshman student majoring in piano performance, has been selected as the 2016-2017 OneAZ Credit Union Student Carillonneur. Liu received a $500 scholarship from OneAZ Credit Union. She will perform two concerts during the spring semester and assist with playing ASU’s Symphonic Carillon at other events.

Liu studies with Robert Hamilton in the Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts School of Music. She was born in Shaoyang, China, and resides in Changsha, China. She began studying piano at the age of 5, and studied English in high school. She plans to teach as well as perform.

Liu became interested in the carillon after visiting and playing the instrument, which is housed in the Lower Level of Old Main. “I found it was very amazing and mysterious, with its sound quality, its pedal and its variety in bells,” she said.

“Also, I consider its similarity with church music. When I was listening to the music that played on campus during every evening, I was surprised what instrument it was and how it played this kind of music.“

Liu also hopes to “make people hopeful and happy to life,” she said. “For this, I have some qualifications that are helpful for learning the carillon. First of all, I am a warmhearted person and I will make my music more affected.”

She also wanted to learn to play the carillon because it is a new instrument and a new challenge.

Liu chose to study piano at ASU because of its location — far from the competitiveness and bustle of New York City, where many aspiring musicians choose to go.

“ASU is a good place to study and be quiet to think. I don't want to be so competitive as to lose my own dream.”