ZEZE PIANO – New York, NY

About the Pianist:

Zeze Xue began studying piano at just three years old. By five, he held his first solo recital in his hometown of Changsha, southern China. At fifteen, he was invited to perform as a concerto soloist with the Hunan Symphony Orchestra and earned admission to Vienna’s Prayner Conservatory, where he studied under Singaporean pianist Joo Ann Koh. Zeze spent two years honing his skills in Vienna before continuing his studies in the United States at the University of Washington, where he studied under Craig Sheppard, the Silver Prize winner of the Leeds International Piano Competition. In 2016, he won the school’s Concerto Competition and performed Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2 with the UW Symphony Orchestra before graduating. Zeze then pursued his Master of Music degree at the Manhattan School of Music, studying with the legendary pedagogue Solomon Mikowsky and renowned soloist and recording artist William Wolfram, completing his degree in May 2019.

Throughout his career, Zeze has performed extensively in concert halls across China, Europe, and the United States, including Ehrbar Hall in Vienna and New York’s renowned Stern Auditorium at Carnegie Hall. In February 2020, he performed as the soloist for Beethoven’s Emperor Concerto with the Northwest Symphony Orchestra in Burien, Washington, for their Valentine’s concert.

Notably, Zeze Xue achieved a significant milestone in 2021 with his debut recital at Lincoln Center. The event drew a sizable audience from the vibrant metropolis of New York City, and his performance was met with resounding acclaim. The New York Concert Review lauded him as “an impressive performer with passion and grandeur.”

Further cementing his position as a distinguished pianist, Zeze secured victory in the International Orchestra 914 Concerto Competition. His rendition of Ravel’s Concerto for the Left Hand, performed with the orchestra at the Paramount Hudson Valley in Peekskill, New York, garnered widespread praise. This momentous occasion was broadcast on WQXR as part of Robert Sherman’s Young Artists Showcase.

In the summer of 2024, Zeze had the privilege of collaborating with the Nizhny Novgorod Philharmonic in Russia, performing Ravel’s Concerto for the Left Hand under the baton of Maestro Vladimir Ponkin. The performance was met with critical acclaim, further enriching his international career. This experience highlighted Zeze’s ability to connect with audiences across cultures, reinforcing his status as an artist of global significance.

Zeze’s exceptional talents have not only been acknowledged on stage but also by the United States Citizens and Immigration Services, which granted him the Artist O1-Visa. This rare authorization recognizes individuals with extraordinary ability or achievement, affirming Zeze’s continued pursuit of musical excellence in the United States.

Concert Program:

Bach: Italian Concerto, BWV 971

Rachmaninoff: Moments Musicaux, Op.16

– Intermission –

Griffes : Three Tone-Pictures, Op.5

Gershwin: 8 Songs from the Songbook

Barber: Excursions, Op.20

Cage : In a Landscape

Carter: Caténaires