Hannah Zhao, age 16, is a talented girl from Irvine, who started exploring piano and violin at a very young age. Currently she studies under Mrs. Aimee Kreston.
Hannah has been a top prizewinner in many numerous international, national, and regional performances and competitions. She performed in various concert halls including Carnegie Hall in New York, Winifred Concert Hall and Segerstrom Concert Hall. Most recently, Hannah became a MTAC Young Artist Guild Member, which is the highest award of CM and offers semi-professional, paid performance opportunities. She made her concerto debut at age 14 with the OCSA Symphony Orchestra. She also won Judges’ Distinction Award and 1st place in American Protégé International Competition, the Global Great Composer Competition and the NYDYMC International Competition. In addition, she has won top prizes in the SYMF Open Competition, MTAC and ASTA Regional and State Final, VOCE Competition and SCP Young Artist Concerto Competition.
Hannah has been assistant concertmaster of the National Honors Orchestra of America Music for All. She was a member of the Los Angeles Youth Philharmonic Orchestra, is also a member of the Pacific Symphony Youth Orchestra and has participated in All State Honors Orchestra, All Southern California Honors Orchestra for four consecutive years.
Some of Hannah’s favorite composers are Vivaldi, Bach, Beethoven, and Tchaikovsky. Her favorite violinists include Augustin Hadelich, Joshua Bell, Hilary Hahn and Anne-Sophie Mutter. In her spare time, Hannah enjoys eating yummy foods, hiking with her family, and hanging out with friends.