Ray Zhang

Ray Zhang began learning and performing piano at the age of 5. He studied under the instruction of Mrs. Fafan Xiao in Vancouver, and since 2016, he has been under the expert tutelage of Dr. Sasha Starcevich in Seattle. Ray made his orchestral debut in Italy, where he performed with the Alicante Symphony. He was invited back the following year to perform with the Firenze Conservatory Orchestra and the Brunensis Virtuosi Orchestra in Czechia. Additionally, Ray has given concerts in several prestigious venues, including He Luting Hall in Shanghai, China, where he performed Chopin’s 2nd Piano Concerto with the Shanghai Conservatory Orchestra; Toronto’s Koerner Hall; New York’s Carnegie Hall; Shanghai’s Oriental Art Center; and Vancouver’s Orpheum. Ray has played for world-class teachers and musicians such as Gary Graffman, Ilana Vered, Richard Goode, Jerome Lowenthal, and Christopher Elton. Ray has won numerous prizes in a variety of competitions, including 1st place at the National Canadian Music Competition in 2016, 2nd place in 2014 and 2015; 1st at the Northwest Chopin Piano Competition in 2018 and 2019; 1st in the Pacific Northwest Piano Competition in 2022; 2nd in the Vienna International Piano Competition in 2018; 2nd in the concerto division of the 2019 Virginia Waring International Piano Competition; and a commendation prize at the Ettlingen International Piano Competition in 2018. In addition, Ray has participated in many other prestigious competitions, such as: the e-Piano International Piano Competition in 2019; the Hilton Head International Piano Competition in 2020; and the Gina Bachauer International Piano Competition in 2020/2021.

When not performing music, Ray devotes his time to working on providing refugees with a musical education scholarship through his foundation, Thrive Refuge.

Ray Zhang is a Young Steinway Artist.