Live on Introductions today is pianist Clara Zhang, a student of Matthew Hagle. She plays a recital of Bach, Chopin, Ravel, Haydn, Walker, Rachmaninoff, and Bowen.
Clara Zhang, 16, is a Merit Scholar at the Music Institute of Chicago. She has won prizes and honors at the Illinois State Music Teachers Association Competition, the Walgreens National Concerto Competition, the Carmel Klavier International Piano Competition, the Piano Star International Piano Competition, the London Grand Prize Virtuoso International Music Competition, and the Clara Schumann International Piano Competition. As a winner of the Chicago Chamber Music Festival Concerto Competition, Clara has performed as a soloist with the Northeastern Illinois University Symphony Orchestra.
In her spare time, Clara runs her Music Ambassadors program with her musician friends, bringing classical music concerts to the doorsteps of senior communities. She regularly performs at the Arbor Terrace in Highland Park, the Avidor in Glenview, the Dickinson Hall in Lake Forest, the Mather Place in Wilmette, and the Sedgebrook in Lincolnshire.
Clara is a junior at Highland Park High School and she is the president of the school’s World Music Club. Outside music, Clara also enjoys ice skating, baking, zip lining and snorkeling. Her favorite performer is pianist Martha Argerich.
Her elder brother Harry Zhang gave a live piano recital on Introductions in September 2021.