SEPF Guest Artist Susan Zhang

Susan Zhang

Susan Zhang

Acclaimed as a pianist with "astounding musical authority" (Columbia Free Times), Susan Zhang made her orchestral debut at the age of twelve with the Augusta Symphony. She has since been featured as a soloist with the South Carolina Philharmonic, the University of South Carolina Symphony Orchestra, and Atlanta Symphony Youth Orchestra. She has performed in numerous venues in North America, Europe, and Asia, including the Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre (Rochester, NY), Woodruff Arts Center (Atlanta, GA), Capilla de Musica de las Bernardas (Burgos, Spain), Qingshan District Government Hall (Wuhan, China), El Cerrito (Caracas, Venezuela), and the Escuela de Música Mozarteum (Caracas, Venezuela). Her recordings have been broadcast on South Carolina Public Radio.

Susan was a prizewinner of the Thousand Islands Chopin Competition, the Bauru-Atlanta Competition, the Burgos International Music Festival Competition, the Arthur Fraser International Concerto Competition, South Carolina MTNA Young Artist Competition, and the University of South Carolina Concerto Competition. She has spent summers at Pianofest in the Hamptons, Banff Piano Master Class, Burgos International Music Festival, Brevard Music Center, and the Southeastern Piano Festival. In the summer of 2014, she was featured as a guest artist in the Southeastern Piano Festival’s Alumni Celebration and Piano Extravaganza concerts.

Susan co-founded The Concert Truck, an award-winning mobile concert hall that brings live classical piano concerts to diverse populations for free. In collaboration with Rice Music House, The Concert Truck launched in April 2016, performing throughout the city of Columbia, SC in outdoor public spaces, schools, and underserved areas. The Concert Truck has been featured on South Carolina Public Radio and SCETV’s Carolina Money.

Susan began her studies at the age of six. She received her Bachelor of Music degree and Graduate Certificate in Performance from the University of South Carolina and her Master of Music degree in Piano Performance and Literature at the Eastman School of Music. Her previous primary teachers include Marina Lomazov, Joseph Rackers, and Enrico Elisi. Susan is currently studying at the Peabody Conservatory with Boris Slutsky.