Dr. Xun Xu (known professionally as Richard Xu throughout most of his career in North America) is a Chinese-born violinist, conductor, and educator based in Vancouver, Canada. Praised for his expressive artistry and leadership both on stage and in the studio, he has performed extensively across North America and Asia, appearing as soloist, chamber musician, and concertmaster with ensembles including the Vancouver Chamber Orchestra and China Youth Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra.

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Xun holds a Doctor of Musical Arts in Violin Performance from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, where he also studied orchestral conducting. His formal training includes degrees from Western Michigan University and the China Conservatory of Music. He has served as a Visiting Artist in Residence at South Dakota State University, a Violin Fellow at the Boulder Bach Festival, and concertmaster in major opera, ballet, and symphonic productions.

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A committed educator, Xun is the founder of Seed Violin Studio in Vancouver and co-director of both the Innovative Piano Program and Piano Proficiency Academy, initiatives dedicated to reshaping music education through discipline, creativity, and purpose. His teaching experience spans from university classrooms to outreach programs in China and North America. He has also adjudicated for national competitions, including the Charleston International Music Competition and Nebraska Music Teachers Association Solo Competition.

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Xun’s mission is to inspire the next generation of musicians with a blend of rigorous training and artistic exploration — helping students not only play beautifully, but grow with confidence, clarity, and heart.