Rui Xi is a pianist, educator, and collaborative musician whose work encompasses solo performance, collaborative piano, chamber music, and pedagogy. She is currently a Doctor of Musical Arts candidate in Piano Performance at Arizona State University, where she studies with Dr. Cathal Breslin and has served as a Teaching Assistant and Faculty Associate. At ASU, she has received the Teaching Assistantship Award and Special Talent Scholarship. Xi previously earned a Performer Diploma and a Master of Music in Piano Performance from Indiana University Bloomington, where she studied with Gregory Sioles and Edward Auer and was awarded the Jacobs School of Music Graduate Tuition Award. She received her Bachelor of Music from Xi'an Conservatory of Music, where she majored in Piano Performance, minored in Vocal Performance, and was awarded the Student Excellence Scholarship.
As a performer, Xi has appeared in solo, duo, chamber, and collaborative recitals at venues including Katzin Concert Hall, Tempe Center for the Arts, ASU Kerr Center, Brookdale Tempe, and the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music's Ford Hall, Auer Hall, Recital Hall, and Sweeney Hall. Her festival and workshop participation includes the Oracle Piano Society Festival and the Edward Auer Summer Workshop. She has also participated in masterclasses with distinguished artists such as Kevin Kenner, Margarita Shevchenko, Arthur Greene, André Watts, Alexandre Moutouzkine, and Tali Morgulis.
Xi's artistry has been recognized in national and international competitions. She was named a Finalist in The American Prize in Piano Performance (Solo), College/University Division in 2026; won the Gold Medal in the Seattle International Competition, Virtuosos Series and the Platinum Medal in the Quebec Music Competition, Professional Category in 2025; and received the Silver Prize in the "Kaibairi" Youth Piano Competition, Romantic Music Division in 2017.
A dedicated teacher, Xi has taught undergraduate music majors and non-majors at Arizona State University, coached chamber music, and worked with students of diverse ages and experience levels through the ASU Community School. She has also served on the piano faculty of Indiana University's Young Pianists Program. In addition to her teaching, she is an experienced collaborative pianist whose work has included rehearsals, lessons, auditions, recitals, competitions, ballet classes, and church services with vocalists, instrumentalists, choirs, and ensembles. Her recent research interests center on music by living women composers and contemporary piano repertoire, with current focus on selected piano works by American composer Augusta Read Thomas, including Six Piano Etudes (1996–2005) and Bell Illuminations (2020).