Praised as “especially impressive” and “a thoughtful, sensitive performer” who “balanced lyrical warmth and crisp clarity” (Tommasini - The New York Times), pianist Zhu Wang was awarded First Prize in the 2020 Young Concert Artists Susan Wadsworth International Auditions. He is also the first prize winner of the 2nd Zhuhai International Mozart Competition for Young Musicians, 4th Manhattan International Music Competition, Hilton Head Young Artist Piano Competition, and the Juilliard Gina Bachauer International Scholarship Piano Competition, and was a recipient of the Juilliard Mieczyslaw Munz Scholarship. In 2019, Zhu was one of three finalists in the Clara Haskil International Piano Competition, and he has been a featured soloist on WQXR’s Young Artist Showcase and WFMT’s Dame Myra Hess Memorial Concerts. The world-renowned pianist Fou Ts’ong recognized Zhu as an “excellent pianist with a natural sense of harmony and imagination,” whose sensitive and engaging performances exhibit a remarkable depth of musicianship and poise beyond his age.
Celebrated for his “technical mastery and deep sense of lyricism,” (The Durango Herald), Zhu has appeared in recital and chamber music performances at Carnegie Hall’s Zankel Hall, Kennedy Center’s Terrace Theater, Lincoln Center at Alice Tully Hall with the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, Hayden’s Ferry Chamber Music Series, Salon de Virtuosi, and the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston. His Carnegie Hall debut made The New York Times’ “Best of Classical Music 2021” list. He was a Bravo Vail! Piano Fellow during the summer of 2022.
During the 2022-23 season Zhu will make appearances at the Usedom Music Festival (Germany), Caramoor as part of the Evnin Rising Stars Series, and will perform in recital and chamber music performances with Chamber Music Detroit, Vancouver Recital Society, Hamilton College, Music at Dumbarton Oaks, Howland Chamber Music Series, Chesapeake Music, Buffalo Chamber Music Society, Clarion Concerts, and The Morgan Library & Museum. He will join the Columbus Symphony (OH) in performances of Rachmaninoff’s 2nd piano concerto.
Zhu has performed all over the world in China, Italy, Poland, Japan, and across the US at prestigious venues including the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall, Kammermusiksaal of Berliner Philharmonie, Warsaw Philharmonic Concert Hall, Shanghai Concert Hall, Chicago Cultural Center, and The Morgan Library & Museum. Since his orchestral debut at age 14 with the Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra, where he performed Mozart Piano Concerto No. 21, Zhu has also appeared as soloist with Salzburg Chamber Soloists, Zermatt Music Festival Orchestra, Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra, Brunensis Virtuosi Orchestra, and the Xiamen Philharmonic.
An active chamber musician and champion of new music, Zhu performed the world premiere of American composer Timo Andres’ Moving Etúdes on his national tour. His festival appearances include the Music Academy of the West, Four Seasons Winter Workshop, Kneisel Hall Chamber Music Festival, International Piano Academy Lake Como, PianoTexas International Festival & Academy, Shanghai International Music Festival, Music Fest Perugia, and Amalfi Coast Music and Arts Festival in Italy.
Zhu has been honored to study with and perform for many influential pianists, including Gary Graffman, Arie Vardi, Fou Ts’ong, Stephen Hough, Murray Perahia, Jerome Lowenthal, Robert Levin, Matti Raekallio, and Jeremy Denk. He is also the recipient of special prizes for the best Waltz, Preludes, and Mazurka in the 5th International Chopin Young Artist Piano Competition and the 16th Asian Chopin International Piano Competition in Japan.
A native of Hunan, China, Zhu started learning piano at the age of five. He is a graduate of the Music Middle School Affiliated to the Shanghai Conservatory of Music, where he studied with Zhe Tang, and Fou Ts'ong. He received a Bachelor of Music degree from The Juilliard School, where he was also the recipient of the Gina Bachauer and Mieczyslaw Munz Scholarship. Zhu is currently pursuing his post-baccalaureate diploma at Curtis Institute of Music, under the tutelage of Robert McDonald. He gratefully acknowledges the support of the Bagby Foundation for the Musical Arts.
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