Qian Zhao is a multiple winner of international music competitions. At the age of 17, representing China, she won an award for outstanding achievement at an international competition held in former Yugoslavia. Since then, Qian has won first prize at Adelaide International Violin Competition of Australia, Louis Lane Musical Instruments Competition of the United States and Mandarin Club Music Competition of Australia. She has also been a prize winner at the Yehudi Menuhin International Violin Competition held in France.

 

Ms Zhao has appeared as a soloist with many orchestras including the Luxembourg Radio and Broadcasting Orchestra, Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra, Waterbury Symphony Orchestra of US, Pan Pacific Festival Orchestra of Australia, Chin’s Central Philharmonic Orchestra, Central Ballets Orchestra of China and Beijing Symphony Orchestra. She has performed on many occasions for dignitaries and heads of state including for former U.S. President George bush and British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher during their visits to China.

 

As an orchestral musician, Qian has been appointed concertmaster of Beijing Symphony Orchestra, acting concertmaster of the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra, Leader of the Australian National Ensemble, associate leader of the Australian Chamber Orchestra and the CBC Radio Orchestra in Vancouver. She was also a teacher at Canberra School of Music of Australia and Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts.

 

Qian Zhao’s first recording was made when she was only 18. She has since made many other recordings for China’s Central People’s Broadcasting Station. In 2001, Ms. Zhao was invited by the Beijing Central Conservatory of Music to record the complete violin examinations syllabus, grades 1 to 9, in all 17 CDs. Her editorial works include The Tutorials for Violin Grade Exams, The Selected Essential Orchestral Excerpts for Violin Players, Volumes 1-3 and Concertos Collections for Violin, which has been published by the People’s Music Publishing House of Beijing. Qian Zhao was featured in a documentary film entitled A young Eagle in Musical Sky in China and publicized frequently in the Chinese media. She was cited in the Almanac of Chinese Literature and Art and was awarded By Chinese Ministry of Culture.

 

Born in Beijing, Qian Zhao began studying violin and piano with her parents since childhood. She started her solo performance at the age of 14 and appeared as a soloist in many concerts organized by the Central Philharmonic Orchestra. At 17, she was chosen by the Chinese Ministry of Culture to attend the undergraduate program at the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing. Upon graduation, she was awarded a scholarship to attend a Master’s program at Yale University. In 1986, she was sponsored by Maestro Isaac Stern to the prestigious Marlboro Music Festival in Vermont.