American violinist Kevin Zhu has amassed an outstanding record of concert performances and competition wins since he began playing violin at age three. Praised for his “awesome technical command and maturity” (The Strad) and “absolute virtuosity, almost blinding in its incredible purity” (L’ape musicale), Kevin has performed on the world’s largest stages, ranging from Carnegie Hall in New York to London’s Royal Festival Hall to the Forbidden City Concert Hall in Beijing. Initially coming to international attention after winning the 2018 Paganini Competition and 2012 Yehudi Menuhin Competition, he has established himself as a leading figure among the next generation of musicians, astonishing audiences with his peerless technical mastery and inimitable artistic voice.

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In the 2022-23 season, Kevin will make concerto debuts with the Des Moines Symphony and at the Auditorio Nacional in Madrid, and embarks on a project to record the 24 Paganini Caprices on Paganini’s famed violin ‘Il Cannone’, something never done before in history. He performs the complete Caprices in Italy, Singapore, and Germany, and makes his Merkin Hall recital debut with a program inspired by ballet and operatic masterpieces.

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Recent performing highlights include concerto appearances with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, Moscow Virtuosi, and China Philharmonic Orchestra. A highly sought-after recitalist, he has toured across the United States and Europe with repertoire ranging from Beethoven to contemporary commissions. Kevin is also a passionate chamber musician, collaborating with artists such as Itzhak Perlman, Lawrence Power, and Jan Vogler.

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In addition to his efforts on stage, Kevin serves as a Culture Ambassador of the Lin Yao Ji Music Foundation of China. He has been featured on ABC Eyewitness News, BBC Radio 3, and RAI Radio 3, and is the recipient of a 2021 Avery Fisher Career Grant and Salon de Virtuosi Career Grant.

Kevin holds a Bachelor’s degree from The Juilliard School, where he studied with Itzhak Perlman and Li Lin. Kevin performs on the c1722 “Lord Wandsworth” Antonio Stradivari violin, which is on loan from the Ryuji Ueno Foundation and Rare Violins In Consortium, Artists and Benefactors Collaborative.

November 9, 2022

New York, NY - The Kosciuszko Foundation

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Omega Ensemble

Brahms: Piano Trio No. 2 in C major, Op. 87

Brahms, arr. Joachim: Hungarian Dances Nos. 1 - 5, WoO 1

with Daniel Hass, cello; David Fung, piano

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DETAILS

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November 16, 2022

Madrid, Spain - Auditorio Nacional de Música

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Serie Grandes Clásicos

Paganini: Violin Concerto No. 1 in D major, Op. 6

with Orquesta Clásica Santa Cecilia

Daniel Raiskin, conductor

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DETAILS

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November 25 - 27, 2022

Caserta, Italy - Autunno Musicale

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November 25 - Museo Archeologico di Calatia, Maddaloni

Paganini: 24 Caprices for Solo Violin, Op. 1

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November 27 - Reggia di Caserta | Cappella Palatina

Mozart: Violin Concerto No. 5 in A major, K. 219

with Orchestra da Camera di Caserta

Antonino Cascio, conductor

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February 4 - 5, 2023

Des Moines, IA - Des Moines Civic Center

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Masterworks

Tchaikovsky: Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 35

with Des Moines Symphony

Joseph Giunta, conductor

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DETAILS

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MUSINGS

A space for wandering thoughts - to be released on the first of every month!

The Quest for Food

September 2022

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One of the unique challenges of traveling as a young musician is finding good restaurants in unfamiliar places. It’s hard to avoid the tourist traps, especially with a good dose of jet lag! On the other hand, finding a place where nobody speaks English - neither the waitstaff, other customers, nor the menu - can be problematic too. It’s such a special feeling to come across a real gem of a place: the rustic pizzeria in a back alley; the brewery that only locals know about; the hot pot that hits the spot...

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I spent a few days in Munich last month, taking in its sights and sounds and reveling in its grandeur. It was awesome to explore an unfamiliar city and I loved being there, but it was oddly difficult to find satisfying food. I tried all my usual tricks: reading reviews, searching through side streets, asking locals for recommendations - but something was missing. On the very last day, with violin and suitcase in tow, I walked into a beer hall across the street from the train station, expecting typical tourist food, until suddenly...the perfect schnitzel! Light and crispy, yet hearty and filling - a total surprise. Sometimes what you’re looking for is exactly where you don’t expect it to be!

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