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Zhanbo Zheng, Violist — AYA artist portrait
AYA Artists

Zhanbo Zheng

Violist

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Violist Zhanbo Zheng has been praised for his “beautiful tone and control… tremendous energy and thoughtful musicality” (The Violinist) and for a sound “that projected miraculously” (Strings).

Recognition and chamber partnerships

He first gained international recognition after becoming the first Chinese violist ever to win the Primrose International Viola Competition, and has since earned top distinctions including Second Prize at the Irving M. Klein International String Competition and the Washington International Competition for Strings. He is also a recipient of the Saint Botolph Club Foundation’s Emerging Artist Award.

A passionate chamber musician, Zheng has collaborated with renowned artists such as Midori, Jonathan Biss, Anthony McGill, and Gary Hoffman. He has performed with the Philadelphia Chamber Music Society as a guest artist, and his festival appearances include the Marlboro Music Festival, Music@Menlo, the Ravinia Steans Music Institute, the Verbier Festival Academy, the Krzyżowa-Music Festival, Caramoor Evnin Rising Stars, and ChamberFest Cleveland. His extensive touring includes national performances with Musicians from Marlboro, the Ravinia Steans Spring Tour, and A Far Cry, with appearances in major venues such as Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, the Kimmel Center, and the Kaufman Music Center.

A young man with glasses playing a violin against a black background.
beautiful tone and control… tremendous energy and thoughtful musicalityThe Violinist

Solo performance and artistic exchange

As a soloist, Zheng has performed with orchestras including the Santa Barbara Chamber Orchestra, Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, San Jose Chamber Orchestra, China Broadcasting Performing Arts Orchestra, and the EOS Repertoire Orchestra of the Central Conservatory of Music. He has also participated in international cultural exchange initiatives and recording projects that further highlight his artistic versatility.

With a distinctive voice and a breadth of musical experiences across solo, chamber, and orchestral performance, Zhanbo Zheng continues to shape a career marked by expressive depth, technical mastery, and international acclaim.

With AYA

Performances, stories and creative collaborations.

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Recognition

  • Primrose International Viola Competition
  • Second Prize at the Irving M. Klein International String Competition
  • Saint Botolph Club Foundation’s Emerging Artist Award

Chamber collaborators

  • Midori, Jonathan Biss, Anthony McGill, and Gary Hoffman

Festivals

  • Marlboro Music Festival, Music@Menlo, the Ravinia Steans Music Institute, the Verbier Festival Academy
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