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 regularly performs 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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This summer, Kevin performs Paganini’s complete 24 Caprices in concert, makes his debut in Atlanta and Como, Italy, and returns to the Moritzburg Festival in Germany. In the 2022-23 season, Kevin debuts with the Des Moines Symphony and performs recitals across Europe and the United States. He will record the Paganini Caprices on Paganini’s famed violin ‘Il Cannone’, something never done before in history.

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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.

August 6 - 21, 2022

Moritzburg, Germany - Moritzburg Festival

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August 6 - König Albert Theater, Bad Elster

Bach: Concerto for Two Violins in D minor, BWV 1043

with Mira Wang, violin; Moritzburg Festival Orchestra

Josep Caballé-Domenech, conductor

DETAILS

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August 9 - Moritzburg Castle

Mendelssohn: Andante and Scherzo for String Quartet, Op. 81

with Chad Hoopes, violin; Sindy Mohamed, viola; Guy Johnston, cello

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August 11 - Moritzburg Castle

Rachmaninoff: Trio élégiaque No. 2 in D minor, Op. 9

with Harriet Krijgh, cello; Lise de la Salle, piano

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August 12 - Moritzburg Castle

Cherubini: Two Sonatas for Horn and String Quartet

Dvořák: Piano Quartet in E flat major, Op. 87

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with Alessio Allegrini, horn; Mira Wang, violin; Matthew Lipman, Ulrich Eichenauer, violas; Jan Vogler, Guy Johnston, cellos; Lise de la Salle, piano

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August 14 - Moritzburg Castle

Beethoven: Piano Trio in E flat major, Op. 70 No. 2

with Guy Johnston, cello; Lise de la Salle, piano

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August 16 - Moritzburg Castle

Glazunov: String Quintet in A major, Op. 39

with Valeriy Sokolov, violin; Ulrich Eichenauer, viola; Christian-Pierre La Marca, Aleksey Shadrin, cellos

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August 19 - Moritzburg Castle

Saint-Saëns: Septet in E flat major, Op. 65

with Sergei Nakariakov, trumpet; Ye-Eun Choi, violin; Sara Ferrández, viola; Christian-Pierre La Marca, cello; Janne Saksala, bass; Louis Lortie, piano

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August 20 - Moritzburg Castle

Strauss: Metamorphosen (Septet)

Brahms: Piano Quintet in F minor, Op. 34

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with Valeriy Sokolov, Mira Wang, violins; Vladimir Babeshko, Lars Anders Tomter, violas; Jan Vogler, Christian-Pierre La Marca, Aleksey Shadrin, cellos; Janne Saksala, bass; Louis Lortie, piano

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August 21 - Moritzburg Castle

Hannah Ishizaki: Octet (world premiere)

Mendelssohn: Octet in E flat major, Op. 20

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with Valeriy Sokolov, Nathan Meltzer, Mira Wang,Ye-Eun Choi, violins; Sara Ferrández, Ulrich Eichenauer, Lars Anders Tomter, violas; Guy Johnston, Aleksey Shadrin, cellos

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DETAILS

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MUSINGS

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

Subtle!

August 2022

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I’m endlessly fascinated by the art of subtlety. A tiny glint of a smile on an actor’s face; the slightest touch between two dancers in a ballet; a delicate curve in a musical performance that takes your breath away: what makes these moments so special? Maybe it’s how exact the expression is, where the performer knows their purpose so well - combined with the sensitivity of the moment. But why is it that the little things grab our hearts and take us to a different world, instead of the obvious things? For me, hearing a musical performance with great contrast and energy excites me - but hearing a performance with amazing subtle changes gives me goosebumps. Could it be that when we notice something subtle, our hearts latch onto it because we believe that moment is unique to us?