Charrine Liu-Maddox Named Winner of USO Concerto Competition
The annual University Symphony Orchestra Concerto Competition was held on Thursday, October 30, in Ted Mann Concert Hall. The competition is open to all full-time School of Music students and was adjudicated by a panel consisting of Mark Mandarano (Macalester College), Erik Rohde (University of Northern Iowa), and Ho Yin Kwok (Ithaca College).
Charrine Liu-Maddox, violin, was chosen as the competition winner and will perform Violin Concerto No. 1 in A minor by Dmitri Shostakovich with the University Symphony Orchestra on March 4, 2026. Charrine is a student of Sally O'Reilly.
Ziye Li, piano, received an honorable mention and will perform a movement of Piano Concerto No. 4 in G major by Ludwig van Beethoven with Maroon Campus Orchestra in Spring 2026. Ziye is a student of Paul Shaw.
Thank you to our adjudicators, Ted Mann Concert Hall staff, and School of Music faculty and staff for their support of the competition.
Artist Bios
Originally from Ellicott City, Maryland, Charrine Liu-Maddox is currently pursuing her Doctor of Musical Arts degree at the University of Minnesota, studying with Sally O’Reilly. Charrine received her undergraduate degree from the Cleveland Institute of Music as a student of William Preucil, Stephen Rose, and Kathleen Winkler. She earned a Master of Music degree at the Peabody Institute as a student of Rebecca Henry and Judith Ingolfsson. An enthusiastic chamber musician, Charrine has worked closely with members of the Cleveland, Brentano, Harlem, Cavani, and Audubon String Quartets. Recent engagements have included winning 1st prize in the Schubert Club Scholarship competition, participating in the international debut of Clarice Assad’s Piano Concerto and a Naxos recording with Inscape Chamber Orchestra, performances with the Lakes Area Music Festival, and consecutive fellowships with the National Orchestral Institute and Festival.
Born in China, Ziye Li is currently pursuing her DMA degree at the University of Minnesota School of Music under the tutelage of Dr. Paul Shaw and working as a teaching assistant. Ziye earned Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from the China Conservatory of Music, where she studied with Prof. Changxin Guan, was awarded the Top Prize Scholarship, and was admitted to the master’s program through recommendation. Ziye has appeared as a soloist at the Wuhan Conservatory of Music, Sichuan Conservatory of Music, Central Conservatory of Music Piano Academy at Gulangyu, and Shenzhen Arts School.
