Haochen Zhang Receives Avery Fisher Career Grant
Photo Credit: Benjamin Ealovega
New York City, March 15, 2017 – Chinese pianist and 2009 Van Cliburn Competition winner Haochen Zhang has been selected as a 2017 Avery Fisher Career Grant recipient. These Grants of $25,000 give professional assistance and recognition to talented instrumentalists believed to have great potential for solo careers. The Career Grants are a part of the Avery Fisher Artist Program, and are administered by Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts. Zhang is the only pianist selected of the four winners announced today.
Zhang comments, “Receiving such a prestigious award as the Avery Fisher Career Grant is an incredible honor for me. I am inspired to walk in the footsteps of so many great artists who have won it in the past.”
Since becoming one of the youngest ever winners of the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition in 2009, Haochen Zhang has captivated audiences at the BBC Proms and Carnegie Hall; has given sold-out touring performances with the Munich Philharmonic, Sydney Symphony, NDR Hamburg, and Mariinsky Orchestra; and has made highly acclaimed recital debuts throughout the globe.
Last month, Zhang released his first studio album on the BIS label, featuring works by Schumann, Brahms, Janáček, and Liszt. The recording was featured as a “Classical Pick” by the Philadelphia Inquirer. Highlights of the current season include engagements with Philadelphia Orchestra, Osaka Philharmonic, Singapore Symphony, and the Pacific Symphony Orchestra, as well as numerous solo recital appearances. Past seasons include debuts with LA Philharmonic, Sydney Symphony, Israel Philharmonic, London Symphony, and Hong Kong Philharmonic.
Zhang is a graduate of the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia where he studied with Gary Graffman.
This year’s recipients are Chad Hoopes and Stephen Waarts, violinists; Haochen Zhang, pianist; and The Dover Quartet. Previous recipients of the Avery Fisher Career Grant include Gil Shaham, Yuja Wang, Jonathan Biss, Hilary Hahn, Joshua Bell, Escher String Quartet, Anthony McGill, and Augustin Hadelich.
The Career Grant performances are recorded for live webstream and radio broadcast by WQXR, New York’s classical music station, with host Elliott Forrest, and will air on Monday, April 24 at 9 pm on 105.9 FM and www.wqxr.org.
For more information about Haochen Zhang, please visit www.haochenzhang.com
Media Contact:
Patricia Price
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