Jenny Xu is a Canadian pianist and a graduate of Berklee College of Music (BM ’16), which she attended on full-scholarship, as well as the Manhattan School of Music (MM ’19), which she attended on partial scholarship. She holds a Royal Conservatory of Music ARCT Diploma for Classical Piano Performance, a Bachelor's Degree in Performance (summa cum laude) and a Master’s Degree in Jazz Piano Performance (summa cum laude). At MSM, Jenny held the piano chair in the institution's Latin-Grammy nominated Afro-Cuban Jazz Orchestra both years of her degree, in addition to having worked closely with NEA Jazz Master Paquito D’Rivera in his Irakere Combo. 

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Jenny is a recipient of numerous awards and accolades including the MSM Outreach Award (2019), Stingray Rising Star Award (2018), Downbeat Award (2018), Berklee Jazz Performance Award recipient (2016), Dal Richard’s Scholarship (2014), Yamaha Kando Award (2014) and was the first individual ever offered a full renewable scholarship to Humber College in Toronto. She completed her undergraduate studies in two years, at twenty years old and, as a result, holds the record for fastest graduation without transfer credits at Berklee.

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Jenny has experience performing at over a dozen music festivals and has had the immense privilege of having worked with Buster Williams, Ingrid Jensen, George Garzone, Eddie Gomez, Kendrick Scott, Dave Liebman, The New York Voices, Paquito D’Rivera and Arturo O’Farrill. On piano, she has shared the stage with the likes of Harold Mabern and Cándido Camero, in addition to having toured with world-renowned saxophonist, George Garzone. Last summer, Jenny was part of the TD Ottawa Youth Summit that opened for Herbie Hancock at the 2018 TD Ottawa International Jazz Festival. 

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Having taught piano since the age of thirteen, Jenny is a zealous advocate of music education and has worked with students as young as four years old, to retirees - ranging from complete beginners to undergraduate music majors. Her teaching philosophy prioritizes instilling a love of music within the student - regardless of their level of seriousness or technical aptitude - and creating lesson plans based off of the each individual’s unique goals and interests.