In November 2023, the Grand Maestro International Music Competition concluded, and among the platinum award winners in the composition category was a young female musician named Junwen Wu. This marked another significant achievement for her after winning numerous accolades, including the first prize in the Bizet Competition and the gold prize in the Royale Music Competition. Behind this series of achievements lies a diverse, sincere, and year-round dedication to the flame of music, depicting an extraordinary journey of musical growth.
Junwen was born into a household passionate about music, with her maternal grandfather being a renowned heir of Suzhou Pingtan, a traditional Chinese musical storytelling form. Even during her prenatal period, Junwen was exposed to a series of Mozart’s compositions—whether due to genetics or prenatal influence, she grew into a fortunate young woman with perfect pitch and synesthesia (the association of melodies with colors). At the age of one, she demonstrated an unparalleled love for music, playing toy pianos intuitively and dancing to melodies. At five, Junwen formally began piano lessons, exploring free variations, passionate surges, and vibrant colors. Music naturally flowed through her world, painting and warming her soul, often resonating with those around her. Despite the busy schedule of high school, her boundless love for music persisted, as she self-taught and composed numerous piano pieces. Each impromptu performance on the piano was a profound exploration of herself, emotions, and the world.
The human world, like a splendid galaxy, is vast and expansive. During her undergraduate years, Junwen chose to pursue studies in business—specifically, in the field of exhibition economics and management. She dedicated herself to exploring the essence of economic society and the communicative traits of human society. Simultaneously, her pursuit of music did not wane. As the president of the Music Society and extracurricular music director at the Sino-British College of the University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, she led the college choir to multiple top awards and received several high-level awards for her individual compositions in the “Shanghai Youth Creation” competition. In her sophomore year, she began studying under Huang Xu, a well-known musician in Shanghai and the founder of “One Point Music.” This experience marked a crucial turning point in her musical journey, clarifying her unique traits: not only possessing perfect pitch and synesthesia but also sensitivity, emotional depth, sincere passion, and a natural, collaborative approach. She became a natural choice for film and TV scoring. Intrigued by the American education system, Junwen decided to prepare for admission to U.S. institutions. Successfully entering the Eastman School of Music at the University of Rochester as a rare cross-cultural, cross-disciplinary applicant, she pursued a master’s degree in film scoring.
The Eastman School of Music, founded by George Eastman, the founder of Kodak, in 1921, has been a pioneer in American music education, renowned for its innovative thinking and outstanding educational quality. It has consistently ranked at the top of the U.S. News rankings and is one of the world’s top music schools. In this environment of innovation and challenge, Junwen, under the guidance of Professor Mark Watters, a six-time Emmy Award winner, and Professor Dave Rivello, successfully overcame the challenges of a cross-cultural, cross-disciplinary education. She cultivated a broad global perspective, systematically honed her musical techniques, unearthed her musical talents, and expanded the diversity of her musical expression. This journey realized a seamless transformation from a hobby to a profession and from innate talent to fulfillment.
Due to her background in communication studies during her undergraduate years, Junwen, while focused on honing her skills in film scoring, also remained committed to fostering East-West cultural exchanges. In early 2023, with the aim of deepening cultural exchanges between the United States and China and promoting the development of film scoring education in China, Junwen proposed the idea of conducting film scoring exchanges in the field of higher music education between the two countries. In May, she collaborated closely with her classmates to invite her main course instructor, Professor Mark Watters, to China. They organized a series of film scoring lectures at the Shanghai University Film Academy, the Communication University of China, and the Beijing Film Academy, engaging in in-depth professional exchanges. Additionally, they conducted extensive teaching activities at the renowned study-abroad institution SIA. This initiative had profound effects on cultural exchanges between China’s higher education music community and the Eastman School of Music, showcasing the mutual learning of Eastern and Western cultures. Professor Watters highly praised Junwen for her global perspective, broad vision, planning abilities, networking skills, and overall coordination.
Since 2019, Junwen has gradually transformed her musical passion into works, releasing 20 albums and over 60 tracks on global music platforms. She has garnered widespread attention and recognition from audiences worldwide. With a substantial fan base on various major music platforms, including nearly eight thousand followers on the popular Chinese social media platform “Xiaohongshu” (also known as RED), she regularly interacts with her audience through live streams, crowdfunding for lyric creation, and discussions on scoring and music production. Xiaohongshu is a Chinese social e-commerce platform established in 2013, featuring influential Key Opinion Leaders (KOLs) and internet celebrities who have a substantial fan base. Brands can collaborate with these KOLs to promote products and enhance brand exposure and influence. Through a series of refined creations, Junwen’s original works have evolved from simplicity to maturity, showcasing her personality amidst diverse styles and profound aesthetics in her beautiful melodies. Particularly in her scoring works, rooted in human nature, she captures and advances emotions with precision, allowing the fusion of sound and imagery to flow seamlessly as one. Professor Watters, Professor Dave, and young artists who have collaborated with institutions such as the University of Rochester, the Royal Academy of Arts in the UK, and Tsinghua University in China, have all praised her musical sensitivity. She is recognized as an outstanding young artistic talent with a focus on works, a childlike heart, and an innovative collaborative spirit, making her a highly commendable collaborator.
The year 2023 can undoubtedly be considered Junwen’s harvest year. With a profound understanding of the marriage of sound and image, unique synesthetic creative abilities, and a vibrant spirit of innovation, she has won numerous honors and awards. These include the gold award in the London Young Musician Composition Group, gold and silver awards and the Most Creative Artist Special Award in the Royale Music Competition Composition Group, a first prize in the Bizet Competition Composition Group, a first prize in the World Master Open Music Competition Composition Group, a gold award in the World Exceptional Musicians Competition for Film and Game Scoring, platinum, gold awards, and the Most Creative Artist Special Award in the World Melodia Championship Competition, two platinum awards in the Universal Stars Music Competition, and a platinum award in the highly esteemed Grand Maestro Competition Composition Group. She also earned a third prize in the Sibelius Composition Competition. These awards not only affirm Junwen’s innovative spirit and the organic fusion of Eastern and Western musical styles but also inspire her to envision a more imaginative future in music.
All that has passed is but a prologue. As for the future, Junwen is not content with simply enhancing her musical skills. She is always active on social platforms, attempting to understand the shaping of human behavior in the face of societal changes and is dedicated to contemplating new behavioral patterns in future music scenarios. To this end, she intends to explore neuroscience, learn AI technology, or explore “music+” and “+music.” She envisions various immersive experiences in the future and has begun preparing for the best musical scenarios within them. It is certain that her music career will inevitably be related to people, will inevitably involve cross-disciplinary integration, and will undoubtedly soothe the soul.
In the vast expanse of the musical cosmos, Junwen Wu is undoubtedly a unique burst of fireworks—shining, enchanting, and brimming with endless possibilities.
