Qizhen Liu joined the San Antonio Symphony in 2017. Prior to that, she was the principal cellist of Topeka Symphony Orchestra.
Qizhen is a prizewinner in the 2015 Kansas City Music Club Competition, 2014 MTNA Young Artist String Solo Competition, 2014 Sigma Alpha Iota Competition, 2012 Sorantin International String Competition, and Internationaler Jugendmusikwettbewerb in Ehigen, Germany. She has appeared in the Fontainebleau Music Festival (France), Zephyr Chamber Music Festival (Italy), Schleswig Holstein Music Festival (Germany), Morningside Bridge Music Festival (Canada), Aspen Music Festival, Music Academy of the West, Kneisel Hall Chamber Music Festival, and Sarasota Music Festival in USA.
In addition to performing, Qizhen currently teaches at the University of Incarnate Word. She has also taught as adjunct instructor of cello at Ottawa University, as faculty member at Morse Music Academy at Yale School of Music, as teaching assistant at Casalsmaggorie Music Festival in Italy, and as teaching artist in the Musical Bridges Program at the University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory of Music.
Qizhen Liu holds a BM in Cello Performance and BA in German Studies from Bard College. She earned her MM from Yale School of Music and a Doctorate of Music Arts from University of Missouri-Kansas City.