Yu Zhou Zhang – piano

The Programme

Yu Zhou Zhang – piano

Humoreske in B flat, Op 20
1. Einfach (Simple)
2. Hastig (Hastily)
3. Einfach und zart (Simple and delicate)
4. Innig (Heartfelt)
5. Sehr lebhaft (Very lively)
6. Mit einigem Pomp (With some pomp)
7. Zum Beschluss (To the resolution)

La valse, M 72

The Artist

Yu Zhou Zhang‘s musical journey commenced at a young age, beginning with the violin at six and piano at eight. He developed his talents at Junior Guildhall, studying under Erika Klemperer (violin) and Chenyin Li (piano). At sixteen, he committed to a music career and accepted a place at Chetham’s School of Music, where Benedict Holland (violin) and Jonathan Middleton (piano) guided his growth.

A scholarship brought him to Trinity Laban, where he refined his skills in violin (Mayumi Fujikawa) and piano (Hilary Coates) while also exploring conducting with Richard Markson. Completing his BMus at the Royal College of Music under Jianing Kong, he earned a spot on the RCM Gateway concert scheme. His journey continued with a one-year MMus and Professional Diploma at the Royal Academy of Music with scholarship, mentored by Tatiana Sarkissova.

Today, Yu Zhou holds a full scholarship for the AdvPgDip program at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire studying with professors John Thwaites and Pascal Nemirovski.

His accomplishments include winning prizes at the Jaques Samuel Piano Festival, Suffolk Festival of Performing Arts, and second place in the Yamaha Piano Competition at Chetham’s. At Trinity Laban, he secured the John Longmire (Beethoven) competition and reached the finals of the Alfred Kitchin competition. Yu Zhou also won the Emanuel Trophy Piano Competition and the Cleveland Institute of Music International Academy Piano Competition.

He has graced stages globally, including Wigmore Hall, Meany Hall, St James’s Piccadilly, St Bride’s and a BBC Radio Suffolk-broadcast Snape Maltings concert. His musical pursuits extend to international festivals and courses, earning a full scholarship at the Seattle Piano Institute in 2018.

Yu Zhou also actively engages in chamber music and his main aim is to make composers’ genius accessible to a wider audience. His future involves continued studies, teaching, and performances, all dedicated to sharing high-quality music with others. He hopes that his dedication might enrich the classical music world in the years to come.