Recently named a Gilmore Young Artist, 18-year-old pianist and composer, Harmony Zhu has been hailed as “a deeply musical soul and nimble technician [with] probing sensitivity” (Chicago Tribune), having “airtight technique [and] coruscating brilliance” (Chicago Classical Review), and as “an impressive soloist, a sparkling and happy presence… unflappable” (Times Union). She won the Young Concert Artists Susan Wadsworth International Auditions at age 15, becoming the youngest artist on the YCA roster.
As a Young Steinway Artist, Harmony has appeared with esteemed orchestras worldwide, including the Philadelphia Orchestra for their season opening concert, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Israel Philharmonic, Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Orquesta Filarmónica de Medellín, Albany Symphony, Orlando Philharmonic, Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra, Aspen Philharmonic Orchestra, and Hawaii Symphony Orchestra, performing under renowned conductors such as Leonard Slatkin, Marin Alsop, and Yannick Nézet-Séguin. At 16, she jumped in with only a 24-hour notice for the late maestro Alexander Toradze, performing Prokofiev Concerto No. 3 with the Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra to great acclaim and praise by the Chicago Classical Review as having the “stellar technique and musical insight to have a major professional career.”
Harmony has performed extensively worldwide, being the youngest to appear at renowned events such as the Verbier Festival, Aspen Music Festival, and Ravinia Festival, and making her debut at Carnegie Hall’s Stern Auditorium at age 14. She has also been featured on NBC’s The Ellen DeGeneres Show, NPR’s From the Top, CBS, and ABC, and was the youngest to be named one of the “30 Hot Canadian Classical Musicians Under 30” by CBC Music. Harmony studies at The Juilliard School with Emanuel Ax and Veda Kaplinsky.
In addition to being a versatile composer and improviser, Harmony enjoys regularly hosting events ranging from galas to community outreach. An avid chamber musician, Harmony regularly shares the stage with ensembles such as the Jupiter Symphony Chamber Players. In the realm of chess, she holds the title of World Champion of her age group and was awarded the title of Woman Candidate Master at age seven. In her free time, Harmony enjoys art appreciation, diving into art museums, reading, oil painting, photography, paragliding, and birdwatching.