At the recently concluded "Rachmaninoff International Competition for Pianists, Composers and Conductors ", master student Xiaobo Hu from the conducting class of Prof. Ari Rasilainen won the "Special Prize" and with it an invitation to a production at the Kolobov Novaya Opera Theater in the 2022/23 season.

Since 2019, Hu has been studying orchestral conducting at the HfM Würzburg. As part of his studies, he has worked with the Deutsche Staatsphilharmonie Rheinland-Pfalz, Südwestdeutsche Philharmonie Konstanz, Jyväskylä Sinfonia, Hofer Symphoniker, Joensuun kaupunginorkesteri and Philharmonisches Orchester Würzburg. In recent years he has also conducted the Hamburg Symphony Orchestra, Finnish Chamber Orchestra, Romanian Chamber Orchestra, Hong Kong Sinfonietta and other ensembles.

In addition to his studies, he has been deeply influenced by renowned conductors such as Neeme Järvi, Esa-Pekka Salonen, Jorma Panula, Jukka-Pekka Saraste, Sakari Oramo.

Xiaobo Hu has just been invited (summer 2022) to join the Bregenz Festival as Assistant Conductor.