Saturday, July 25, 2020

Benjamin Zhao | 3rd Prize | Piano | 7th Edition | ENKOR Int'l Music Competition


Benjamin discovered his passion for music under the instruction of Grace Junghee Yang at the age of five. Ben’s musical development has thrived under the instruction of multiple excellent teachers. He has been studying most recently with Professor Rita Shklar who has shaped his understanding of classical music and repertoire. Since then, he has won many piano competitions at the state, tri-state, and international levels.

Ben is a five-year winner of the Golden Key Festival and performed at Carnegie’s Weill recital Hall. At the local level, he earned his six-year High Honors Award at the NJMTA (New Jersey Music Teacher Association) Spring Audition. Ben is a scholarship winner of the Steinway Society Society Classical Competition and 3rd place winner of NJMTA Young Musicians Competition.

He has performed at a Princeton Symphony Orchestra Bravo master class for world-class musician Natasha Paremski.

Most recently, Ben has developed his online performance presence through winning 2nd Place for Great Composer Competition’s Best Prokofiev Performance and Best Bach Performance as well as 1st Place for Music of the 19th Century in May 2020.

Ben has also used his musical talents to serve his community as he has been serving at his Church as an accompanist for two years.

While not playing piano, Ben enjoys listening to Queen and playing tennis.

Allegro Apassionato Op. 70 by Saint Saëns - 6:29 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2I_ts8kazho

Bach Prelude and Fugue A Flat Major BWV 862 Book 2 - 5:49 -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MOWzuE3Y0r8