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Kevin Zhu (violinist)

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Kevin Zhu
BornDecember 2000 (age 23)
Maryland, U. S.
GenresClassical
InstrumentViolin

Kevin Zhu (born in December 2000) is an American violinist. He was the first prize winner of the 55th edition of the International Paganini Competition in Genoa, Italy.[1] He is also the first prize winner in the junior division of the 2012 Yehudi Menuhin International Competition for Young Violinists in Beijing, China.[2] In 2019, he made his debut at Carnegie Hall at Weill Recital Hall.[3]

Biography

Born in Maryland, USA, Kevin Zhu started playing violin at the age of 3. He attended elementary and middle schools in Cupertino, California. He was a pre-college student of Li Lin at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music.[4] As a recipient of a Kovner Fellowship at The Juilliard School, Zhu is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Music and studies with Itzhak Perlman and Li Lin.[2]

Following his success at the Menuhin Competition and Paganini competition, Zhu has been a featured soloist with orchestras such as the Philharmonia Orchestra,[5] the Vienna Chamber Orchestra,[6] the Moscow Virtuosi Orchestra, the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra,[2] and the China Philharmonic Orchestra.[7] He also performs solo recitals across the United States, Italy, Germany, England, Poland, China, and Lebanon. Zhu has repeatedly been featured on BBC Radio 3 and NPR’s From the Top.[4]

According to his website https://www.kevinzhuviolin.com/, he is currently working towards performing all 24 of Paganini’s Caprices in one concert. In 2020, we are expected to see him perform with the Moscow State Symphony Orchestra, Polish Baltic Philharmonic, and Colorado Springs Philharmonic, and returns to the Teatro Carlo Felice in Genoa performing Elgar’s Violin Concerto.

Zhu currently performs on the 1722 ‘Lord Wandsworth’ Stradivarius violin loaned from the Ryuji Ueno Foundation and the Rare Violins In Consortium.[2] He had performed on an old Italian violin made by Andrea Guarneri[6] loaned from Florian Leonhard Fine Violins.[1]

Awards and appearances

References

  1. ^ a b c Channel, The Violin (2018-04-14). "BREAKING | 17 Year Old VC Young Artist Kevin Zhu Awarded 1st Prize at Paganini Competition". The World's Leading Classical Music News Source. Est 2009. Retrieved 2020-08-11.
  2. ^ a b c d e Channel, The Violin (2019-10-02). "VC YOUNG ARTIST | Kevin Zhu, 18 – Paganini & Menuhin Competition 1st Prize Winner". The World's Leading Classical Music News Source. Est 2009. Retrieved 2020-08-11.
  3. ^ a b "Paganini Honors Paganini | Oct 30, 2019 at 8 PM". www.carnegiehall.org. Retrieved 2020-08-11.
  4. ^ a b "Kevin Zhu". From the Top. Retrieved 2020-08-11.
  5. ^ "St Valentines Day Gala Concert - Philharmonia Orchestra". www.weekendnotes.co.uk. Retrieved 2020-09-13.
  6. ^ a b Channel, The Violin (2017-05-24). "VC YOUNG ARTIST | Kevin Zhu, 16 – Youngest Menuhin Competition Prize Winner". The World's Leading Classical Music News Source. Est 2009. Retrieved 2020-08-11.
  7. ^ 周冰. "A celebration in strings". global.chinadaily.com.cn. Retrieved 2020-09-13.