Yoyo Wu is a gifted high school musician from San Diego, California, recognized for her exceptional versatility on marimba, percussion, and piano. As a soloist, orchestral musician, and chamber performer, Yoyo has appeared in a wide range of performance venues and has been recognized for her ability to bring both virtuosity and musical depth to a diverse repertoire. Her musical journey has been featured in the San Diego Union-Tribune, and she continues to pursue opportunities that challenge and expand her artistry as a musician.
Yoyo is a 2026 YoungArts Winner with Distinction in Classical Music/Percussion, an honor awarded to a select group of young artists nationwide. She was featured on National Public Ratio (NPR) broadcast program From The Top, Show 475. She is a percussionist of the 2026 National Youth Orchestra of the United States of America (NYO-USA), and was a percussionist of NYO2 in 2025 under the baton of Rafael Payare.
Her recent awards also include winning first place in the high school division of the Great Plains International Marimba Competition in 2025; a scholarship to the 2027 Aspen Music Festival and School; scholarships from the San Diego Musical Merit Foundation in 2026 and 2025, and the Best Contemporary Award at the 2025 La Jolla Emerging Artists Competition. Yoyo has appeared multiple times as a marimba soloist with the San Diego Youth Symphony (SDYS) and Coastal Community Concert Band upon winning first-place honors in concerto competitions in 2026, 2025 and 2023.
Alongside her virtuosity on marimba and percussion, Yoyo also is an award-winning pianist who performed piano at Carnegie Hall. She has also received top honors in numerous competitions, including the MTAC Sonata Competition, Concerto Competitions, the Chopin Festival, and the Goodlin Scholarship Competition. In 2024, she presented a full piano solo recital, featuring masterworks by Bach, Chopin, and Beethoven. 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 recitals in local communities, including at Solana Salons Concert Series, La Jolla Presbyterian Church, Hope United Methodist Church, and at various retirement communities throughout San Diego. 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.
Yoyo currently studies marimba and percussion with Svet Stoyanov and Andrew Watkins, and studies piano with Brendan Nguyen. She has also performed in master classes led by percussionists Fabian Ziegler and Matthew Lau, marimbist Naoko Takada, and renowned pianist Daniel Shapiro.
News and Features
https://www.sdfoundation.org/news-events/sdf-news/san-diego-youth-symphony-shaping-students-lives-through-music (August 12, 2023|By SDF)