Yi Zhong

A native of China, pianist Yi Zhong has captivated audiences with his “virtuosity and sensitivity” (Augsburger-Allgemeine). Hailed by the New York Concert Review as “a pianist of impressive stamina, fierce concentration, and unquestionable technical command” and “one who certainly has the pianism to tackle just about anything.”

Yi began playing the piano at the age of five and ever since has been committed to the career of a solo performer. He is the laureate of Camerata International Piano Competition in New York, and the WPTA Finland International Piano Competition, as well as a top prize winner at the Paderewski International Piano Competition in the United States, Artists International Competition in New York and the Los Angeles Liszt International Piano Competition. Yi is also the recipient of the “Young Artist Award”, the highest honorable prize given by the Global Outstanding Chinese Artists Association. He has received merits and grants from companies such as Yamaha and Kayserburg.

He is frequently invited to perform at prestigious international festivals and has given solo recitals and chamber music concerts in the United States, Europe and China. He has appeared at many important concert series and venues, including New York City’s Lincoln Center, Isaac Stern Auditorium and Weill recital hall at Carnegie Hall, Merkin Concert Hall at Kaufman Center and Steinway Halls in China and North America. Having under his fingers a vast repertoire from Baroque to Contemporary, Mr. Zhong has always taken special interest in the less known piano works, in the art of piano transcriptions (some of which he creates himself) and in the works of Franz Liszt.

Mr. Zhong received his music education from the Manhattan School of Music in New York City where he was a scholarship recipient and was placed on the Dean’s List, and where he studied with Jeffrey Cohen. He furthered his studies at Boston University School of Music as the only pianist who has been admitted to the prestigious Artist Diploma program with a full scholarship award under the tutelage of Gila Goldstein. Currently, he is an APD candidate of Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, where he is studying with Pascal Nemirovski and the recipient of a full scholarship and the Bradshaw Bursary.

Yi Zhong released his recent commercial CD under the label KNS CLASSICAL, which has been nominated as a winner of Global Music Award in 2020. Recently, he has been appointed as a visiting professor by Changchun Normal University in China.

From the New York Concert Review:

“Berlioz-Liszt Un Bal was brilliant in Mr. Zhong’s hands, projecting charm and sweep in its lilting waltz and mounting to a bravura ending with rapid octaves, huge leaps, hand-crossings – “the works.” Mr. Zhong is a fine champion for this transcription movement, which is still relatively rarely played”.

“Mr. Zhong certainly has the pianism to tackle just about anything”

“…[He] played with tremendous technical skill and a Horowitzian gleam”.

“Mr. Zhong is a pianist of impressive stamina, fierce concentration, and unquestionable technical command”.

From the Augsburger-Allgemeine:

“…virtuosity and sensitivity…”