Dr. Xi Zhang

Associate Professor of Piano at Shanghai Normal University

Pianist Xi Zhang made her European debut at age 19, playing a recital tour in Norway. An active soloist and chamber musician, Dr. Zhang has appeared as soloist with numerous orchestras and has given recitals at venues such as the Kennedy Performing Arts Center, Jordan Hall, Beijing’s National Performing Arts Center, and the Shanghai Concert Hall, many of which were broadcast live. She has enjoyed collaborating with many outstanding musicians. In 2005, Dr. Zhang formed the Xi & J Duo with her husband, cellist Jason Wang. Their recent concerts in both the U.S. and China have been highly acclaimed.
A prizewinner of multiple competitions, Dr. Zhang won second prize at the Bartok-Kabalevsky-Prokofiev International Competition and earned top prizes at the Boca Piano Competition and Illinois Roland-Carol Music Competition. The Liberace Piano Foundation awarded her the Liberace Scholarship for her artistic accomplishments.

Born in Shanghai, Dr. Zhang gave her first recital at the age of ten at the Shanghai Conservatory’s Performance Hall. After attending Shanghai Conservatory’s Music Middle School for six years, Dr. Zhang went to the United States to continue her studies. She received her Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the Eastman School of Music. Her major teachers include Er Yao Ling, Wha Kyung Byun, Barry Snyder, and Martin Canin.

Dr. Zhang was named a Pujiang Scholar by the city of Shanghai for her outstanding achievements. She is currently an associate professor of piano at Shanghai Normal University and also serves on the piano faculty of Shanghai Conservatory’s Music Middle School. Dr. Zhang has been invited to give masterclasses and lectures in many music schools in America, Europe and China. She has served as a jury member for the Shanghai International Piano Competition, China Weibo Piano Competition. Many of her students have won top prizes at nationwide and international piano competitions, such as Vienna International Piano Competition, Shanghai International Piano Competition and China “XingHai Cup” National Piano Competition.