Yoyo Wu is a gifted high school musician from San Diego, California, recognized for her exceptional versatility on both the marimba and piano. Featured in the San Diego Union-Tribune, Yoyo began her musical journey at the age of six with piano before expanding her artistry to include percusion and marimba, where she continues to captivate audiences with her expressive performances.
In 2025, Yoyo earned recognition as a scholarship winner from the San Diego Musical Merit Foundation and was the only high school musician among the recipients. She also won the Best Contemporary Award at the 2025 La Jolla Emerging Artists Competition as the youngest winner, competing against seasoned musicians. In the summer of 2025, she also won first place in the high school division of the Great Plains International Marimba Competition as the youngest medalists in the division.
Yoyo was selected among other outstanding young American instrumentalists to play in the National Youth Orchestra (NYO2) in the summer of 2025, performing at Carnegie Hall and making their European debut at the Edinburgh International Festival under the baton of Rafael Payare. She has also performed twice as a marimba soloist with the San Diego Youth Symphony (SDYS), upon winning first-place honors in concerto competitions, conducted by Sameer Patel in 2025 and Anthony Do-Hoon Kim in 2023.
Alongside her virtuosity on marimba and percussion, Yoyo is also an accomplished piano player. In 2024, she presented a full piano solo recital, featuring masterworks by Bach, Chopin, and Beethoven. As a pianist, Yoyo performed at Carnegie Hall in 2023 in recognition of winning first place in the American Protege Piano and String Competition. She has received first place and other top honors in numerous competitions, including Music Teachers Association of California (MTAC) Sonata Competition, Concerto Competitions, the Chopin Festival, the Goodlin Scholarship Competition, and more. Beyond her performance achievements, Yoyo is deeply committed to sharing her love of music with her community. She often offers free performances at local churches and senior living communities, including Hope United Methodist Church, Seacrest Village Retirement Communities, and Silvergate Rancho Bernardo Retirement Community. Furthermore, since 2023, she has led the Carmel Valley Summer Symphony (CVSS), a student-run nonprofit organization that provides free and accessible music education and performance opportunities to students across San Diego during summer. With approximately 100 students enrolled annually, Yoyo and her team ensure the passion for music reaches far beyond her own performances.