Gigi Ip

Beginning piano at the age of four, Gigi Ip trained at the Academy for Performing Arts in Hong Kong under the guidance of Mr. Gabriel Kwok and Mr. Wang Nam, before continuing her studies abroad. As the recipient of numerous scholarships and awards, she obtained her Diploma and Bachelor of Music with First Class
Honours, along with a three-year full scholarship from the Hong Kong Jockey Club. In 2010, she graduated from her Master of Music program at the Codarts Rotterdam Conservatories on a two year full scholarship from the prestigious HSP Huygens program in the Netherlands, studying under Aquiles Delle Vigne and
receiving the highest remarks (Cum Laude) for her final exam. As an active artist, she received full sponsorship from the Dutch government and also obtained a Postgraduate Diploma from the Koninklijk Conservatorium in Antwerpen, Belgium. She graduated with a Master of Chamber Music from the Hochschule für Musik, Theater und Medien in Hannover, Germany, studying under Markus Becker, Gerrit Zitterbart (Abegg Trio), and Oliver Wille (Kuss Quartet).

Gigi has won numerous international and local piano solo prizes and awards, including First Prize at the Prix d'Harmonie in the Netherlands in 2010, and being the Winner of the Hong Kong and the Netherlands Concerto Competition with the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts Symphony Orchestra in 2007, as well as with the Symfonieorchest Rijnmond in 2009. She has received First Prizes at Hong Kong Piano Competitions, was a prize winner at the Chinese Composition Competition, and won many awards at the Hong Kong School Music Festivals. Ip has frequently performed piano recitals in Hong Kong and Europe, including at the De Doelen Concertgebouw in Rotterdam, Podium 950 in Rotterdam, and the Zeezaal in Middleburg, Zuid-Holland; recitals in Rotterdam, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Salzburg, Italy, Leipzig, and Paris; and has appeared in major festivals and masterclasses such as the International Keyboard Institute in New York, the International Summer Academy Mozarteum in Salzburg, the Euro Arts Festival in Leipzig, and
more. In summer 2010, she performed for the 25th anniversary of the Hong Kong Academy of Performing Arts at the Best Pianists fundraising concerts.

Enthusiastic about performing, teaching, and promoting chamber music, Gigi is a founding member of “the Hammerstein Trio.” They have studied with various renowned musicians, including Antonio Meneses, Menahem Pressler (Beaux Arts Trio), Anner Bijlsma, Emanuel Ax, Gordan Nikolic (LSO), Ulf Schneider (Jean Paul Trio), Gerrit Zitterbart (Abegg Trio), Oliver Wille (Kuss Quartet), and more. They have performed in many debut concerts across the Netherlands, Spain, Germany, France, the USA, Southern China, and beyond. Furthermore, the Trio has won various international Chamber Music Awards, Scholarships, and Concert Tours in Spain, as well as Piano Trio Grand Prizes. In 2011, the trio was selected to perform at the St. Lawrence String Quartet Chamber Music Showcase at Stanford University in San Francisco, receiving enthusiastic comments from the audience. In 2012, they were selected to participate in Menahem Pressler’s intensive Masterclass in Nice, France, where they garnered invaluable experience. In 2013, they won 1st prize at the International Chamber Music Competition in Montserrat, Valencia, and also 1st prize at the XV edition of the Concurs de Música de Cambra "Ciutat de Vinaròs," Jeunesse Musicales Vinaròs. In 2015, they were selected as Scholars and Ambassadors of Yehudi Menuhin Live Music Now Hannover e.V. They also won numerous concert engagements and the Audience Prize from the “Die Hannoversche Börse der Musiktalente” competition in Hannover, Germany. In October, they were honored to be invited by the Spanish National Radio in Madrid (RTVE) for a live interview and performance on the Classical Program
“Estudio 206.” They were also selected by the “Fundación Juan March” and performed a series of concerts with online live streams, sound, and video recordings. This year, they proudly presented and hosted their very first and successful piano trio concert in collaboration with a flamenco dancer in Hannover. In late November, they were invited to give masterclasses, workshops, and performances in Guangzhou, China, and Hong Kong. In 2016, they performed at Hameln and Bechstein Centrum Hannover’s “Young Professionals” Concert Series, receiving very positive reviews.

The Hammerstein Trio fervently believes in introducing the piano trio repertoire to a wider audience. Creating themed nights and collaborating with artists from different disciplines in concerts provides wonderful opportunities for people to discover the excitement of live classical music. Always searching for flexibility and a wide range of presentations, the trio organizes distinguished projects and workshops such as the European and Asian Concert Tour “Chamber Music Avenue,” “Silvester Konzert,” and more. Multi-Arts Projects include “Surround Sound Project,” "Buenas Noches desde España" (Goodnight from Spain), where they collaborated with a Spanish dancer to combine two different art forms on the same stage. In November 2016, they had a successful experimental live theme night concert, "Landscape is Loud," featuring a National
Geographic award-winning photographer and a full house. In the near future, they will continue to present a series of creative concerts and welcome all kinds of innovative ideas.

In 2015, Gigi founded a non-profit organization, “Chamber Music for Life Hong Kong,” to launch a new community music outreach project for local musicians and to bring live music to a diverse range of people facing challenges due to aging, illness, social disadvantage, or disability. In 2017 and 2018, they were selected as Cultural Ambassadors participating in "the Community Cultural Ambassadors Scheme" launched by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department. Through continuous involvement and visiting sessions, their aspiration is to achieve beneficial impacts on the well-being of their communities in Hong Kong. They have hosted over 120 concerts. In 2019, CMLHK self-funded 10 Outreach Concerts. In 2020, CMLHK successfully became a charitable non-profit organization under section 88. From 2019 to 2023, despite the pandemic, they continued various community concerts with project grants from the Hong Kong Arts and Development Council, completing 16 community concerts for the public. In 2024, they developed a brand new interactive storytelling and instrument introduction program for children, launching it in Spain and performing in Hong Kong in 2025, receiving extraordinary reactions.

“The most beautiful story, interactive and creative concert for children.”
“Fun, engaging, and with an amazing selection of music.”
“An awesome concert where children could try instruments.”

Apart from organizing all concerts for CMLHK, Gigi is also very active in performing chamber music and solo. In 2023, she performed a violin duo concert in Macau. In 2025, she is honored to be invited to perform at the Academy Chopin Piano Festival at the HKAPA. Additionally, she loves teaching chamber music and piano masterclasses in Spain during the summers of 2023, 2024, and 2025. With brilliant ideas, she has also designed an early childhood music program for children aged 8 months to 3 years. Currently, she is a part-time piano accompanist for junior and senior students at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts.