Kevin Zhu (violinist)

Kevin Zhu (Chinese: 朱凯源, born in November 27 2000) is an American concert violinist. He is a recipient of the 2021 Avery Fisher Career Grant[1] and was the first prize winner of the 55th edition of the International Paganini Competition in Genoa, Italy, aged just 17.[2] He was also the first prize winner in the junior division of the 2012 Yehudi Menuhin International Competition for Young Violinists in Beijing, China.[3] In 2019, he made his debut at Carnegie Hall at Weill Recital Hall.[4]

Kevin Zhu
Born (2000-11-27) November 27, 2000
Maryland, U.S.A.
GenresClassical
InstrumentsViolin
Associated actsMenuhin Competition & Paganini International Violin Competition

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.[5] 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.[3]

Following his success at the Menuhin Competition and Paganini competition, Zhu has been a featured soloist with orchestras such as the Philharmonia Orchestra,[6] the Vienna Chamber Orchestra,[7] the Moscow Virtuosi Orchestra, the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra,[3] and the China Philharmonic Orchestra.[8] 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.[5]

He is working towards performing all 24 of Paganini's Caprices in one concert. In 2020, he was intending to perform with the Moscow State Symphony Orchestra, Polish Baltic Philharmonic, and Colorado Springs Philharmonic, and at Teatro Carlo Felice in Genoa performing Elgar's Violin Concerto.

Zhu currently performs on the 1722 ‘Lord Wandsworth’ Stradivarius violin — on long term loan to him from the Ryuji Ueno Foundation and the Rare Violins of New York "In Consortium".[3]

Awards and appearances
  1. 2012: Junior Division First prize winner and Composer's prize winner at the Yehudi Menuhin International Competition for Young Violinists[3]
  2. 2018: First prize winner and the special prizes winner for the "Best performance of a Paganini Caprice" and for "Being the Youngest Finalist", at the Paganini International Violin Competition.[2]
  3. 2019: Carnegie Hall Debut at Weill Recital Hall[4]
  4. 2021: Awarded a Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts Avery Fisher Career Grant[1]
  5. 2021: Recipient of a Salon de Virtuosi Career Grant.[9]

References
  1. "The Avery Fisher Career Grants | Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts". about.lincolncenter.org. Retrieved 2021-04-22.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. "Paganini Honors Paganini | Oct 30, 2019 at 8 PM". www.carnegiehall.org. Retrieved 2020-08-11.
  5. "Kevin Zhu". From the Top. Retrieved 2020-08-11.
  6. "St Valentines Day Gala Concert - Philharmonia Orchestra". www.weekendnotes.co.uk. Retrieved 2020-09-13.
  7. 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.
  8. 周冰. "A celebration in strings". global.chinadaily.com.cn. Retrieved 2020-09-13.
  9. Channel, The Violin (2021-06-17). "Salon de Virtuosi Announces 2021 Career Grants". The World's Leading Classical Music News Source. Est 2009. Retrieved 2021-11-14.
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