Nominated as one of BBC Music Magazine’s Rising Stars of 2024, Xiaowen Shang’s recent career highlights include winning the First Prize of 2025 Prix Annelie de Man in Netherlands and being invited to come back as one of the festival artist in 2027 edition; performing at the Harpa Concert Hall in Iceland with her trio, Temporal Harmonies Inc. (THI) repeating their concert programme at Wigmore Hall. In addition, her debut album with Linn Records, Music of Silence as part of the Royal Academy of Music Bicentenary Series has been featured on seven Apple Music playlists and has received positive reviews from various broadcast channels, including BBC Radio 3, Scala Radio and Radio Kraków Kultura.

Xiaowen Shang is a versatile pianist and harpsichordist with a passion for early, classical, and contemporary music. Her repertoire spans from Renaissance composers such as Antonio de Cabezón and William Byrd to contemporary figures including Olivier Messiaen, Pierre Boulez, and Brett Dean. She has collaborated with renowned musicians and composers such as Steven Isserlis, Joanna MacGregor, Rachel Podger, Brett Dean, Dame Imogen Cooper, Lawrence Power, and Adrian Brendel. Xiaowen is also enthusiastic about interdisciplinary projects, including live visuals, theatre, and silent film improvisation. As an active performer, Xiaowen has played at prestigious venues including the Royal Albert Hall, Royal Festival Hall, Wigmore Hall, the Victoria and Albert Museum, and Brighton Dome. She has also appeared as a soloist and chamber musician at numerous festivals, including the Brecon Festival, Petworth Festival, and Dartington Festival. 

Some of her past accolades include winning First Prize in the Jacob Barnes Award with her trio, Temporal Harmonies Inc.; First Prize at the Beethoven Piano Society of Europe Senior Intercollegiate Competition, along with the Beethoven Medal; and First Prize in the WCOM Harriet Cohen Bach Competition. Additionally, Xiaowen is the Young Artist in Association of Deal Festival 2026, where she curates and performs three concerts. Xiaowen’s upcoming engagements in the spring season include Leeds Chamber Concert series with THI; BachFest Bath with Adrian Brendel; V10LA Day at Kings Place with Lawrence Power and more.

Xiaowen recently completed her Master of Music degree with Distinction under the guidance of Joanna MacGregor at the Royal Academy of Music, where she was a Bicentenary Scholar in 2022-2024. She was also awarded the DipRAM and achieved a perfect score in her final recital. Starting in September 2024, she began her studies as a PhD candidate on a scholarship at the Academy, supervised by Neil Heyde and Mei-Ting Sun. She earned her Bachelor's degree with First Class Honours and received the Edwin Samuel Dove Prize for special merit. Xiaowen is passionate about visual arts and visits museums and art galleries often, and enjoys swimming and archery a lot.