Wenchun Fan

As a professional violinist and researcher, Wenchun Fan completed her PhD at the University of Leeds in 2025, specialising in Schubert’s violin repertoire through a practice-led approach under the supervision of Dr Clive McClelland, Prof Michael Allis and Dr Stephen Muir. Her doctoral research, recognised for its originality in integrating performance-based experimentation with historical enquiry into Schubert’s violin works, has been presented internationally at venues such as the Schubert Research Centre in Vienna, the SMI/ICTMD-IE Postgraduate Conference in Ireland and the 7th Performance Studies Network Conference in London. 

Trained in both the UK and China, Wenchun studied violin at the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing with Prof. Jia Zhang, Liwei Tan and Wei Xue before postgraduate studies at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester under the guidance of the internationally celebrated violinist Leland Chen, where she was awarded a full entrance scholarship and support from the China Scholarship Council. As an accomplished performer, she regularly gives solo recitals across the UK and China. Notably, she has presented several recitals for the Schubert Institute UK, collaborating with distinguished pianists Dr Simon Callaghan and Jordi Bitlloch as well as with her chamber group, the Ink Quartet, and she also regularly performs with Manchester Camerata. In 2023–24 she collaborated with Peking University Hall to design, plan and deliver over ten lecture-based musical workshops at Peking University, serving as both lead presenter and artistic content creator. In 2025 she was recognised as a Leading Talent in Culture and the Arts under a Chinese government cultural programme, reflecting her contributions to performance and education. 

With over eight years of teaching experience, Wenchun has guided students to success in international competitions and secured admissions to prestigious institutions including the Guildhall School of Music & Drama, Royal Academy of Music, Royal College of Music, Royal Northern College of Music and other leading conservatoires. 

Qualifications:

PhD in Music, University of Leeds 

Master of Music in Violin Performance, Royal Northern College of Music 

Bachelor of Arts in Violin Performance, Central Conservatory of Music 

Publications

Monograph: Schubert's Violin (in preparation)

Fan, Wenchun. (2025) ‘Parent–Child Salon: Unlocking the Aesthetic Key to Overcoming Challenges in Violin Teaching’, in Music Weekly, Vol.4, No. 2078, CN11-0110, 13. 

Conferences and Presentations

Conferences 

• 7th International Performance Studies Network (PSN), London, 2025 (Lecture-recital)
• ÖAW Schubert Research Centre Second Workshop, Vienna, 2024 (Lecture-recital)
• SMI/ICTMD-IE Postgraduate Conference, Maynooth, Ireland, 2024 (Lecture-recital)
• BFE/RMA Research Students’ Conference, Newcastle, UK, 2023 (Lecture-recital)

Selected Solo Recitals (related to doctoral research programme) 

• Leeds International Concert Series, 2022, 2023, 2024
• Duo Recital (Violin and Piano), Conway Hall, London, 2022 (with support from the Schubert Institute UK)

Selected Chamber Recitals (related to doctoral research programme – Schubert’s string quartets) 

• Purcell School Recital, 2022
• Recital for the Schubert Institute UK, 2022

Selected Upcoming events 

• International Symposium on Performance Scienc 2025, Shanghai, (Poster Presentation)
• Invited speaker, ‘In Conversation’ Series, Schubert Institute UK, February 2026