Pianist Kyra Xuerong Zhao, “A mighty force with magic hands” (The San Juan Daily Star), “A born performer” (New York Concert Review) has given recitals in some of the world’s most prestigious halls and major festivals. Praised by world-renowned artists, her most recent CD album, released by ALBANY RECORDS, Vibrant: music by Rachmaninoff, Scriabin, and Schumann, greatly impressed FANFARE MUSIC MAGAZINE’s critics like, Jerry Dubins: "flawless execution, beauty of tone, and an emotional sensitivity that finds just the right balance in each piece between bravura and poetry;” Colin Clarke: “musically intelligent, sensitive and endowed with a wonderful technique;” and James Harrington: “This disc should cement her standing among the top in the younger generation of international pianists.” Her irrepressible passion for music is ever-present, whether reminiscing about her precocious childhood, her love of performing, or sharing her thoughts on Vibrant’s “common thread of Romantic fantasy” (Dubins).
Dr. Zhao has been exclusively interviewed by Fanfare Music Magazine, Berkshire Eagle, New York Concert Review, Manhattan Express, San Juan Daily Star, Sing Tao Daily, Qiao Bao, The Belmont Media and more. She played Liszt and Chopin’s piano concertos with orchestras including Mannes Orchestra, Boston Orchestra Appassionata, and New York Claremont Chamber Symphony. She has also performed new music with Yale Symphony Orchestra and BU Tanglewood Wind Ensemble. Zhao has been a frequent guest artist performing at Music & More Festival, The Steinway Society of Puerto Rico Celebrity Series, Lancaster International Piano Festival, Boston University Tanglewood Institute, Webster Performance Series. She has also been invited regularly to give lectures and teach masterclasses in New York, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and cities in Asia.
Zhao has received many international top prizes, including: Rome Chopin International Piano Competition; Seattle International Piano Competition; Five-Town International Piano Competition; Richmond International Piano Competition; Concerto Soloists Competition at Mannes College of Music; Franz Liszt-Center International Piano Competition and Quebec International Music Awards. Zhao has performed solo, concerto and chamber concerts in Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center Stage, Seiji Ozawa Hall, Koussevitzky Music Shed, Benaroya Hall in Seattle, Horvitz Auditorium in Florida, Rockport Music Performance Center, Natick Center for Arts in Massachusetts, Steinway Hall in New York and National Concert Hall in Beijing.
Besides her active performing career, Zhao is a devoted educator, previously serving as piano teaching assistant both at Yale University and Boston University for graduate studies, studio lessons and group classes. She currently serves on piano faculty at New England Conservatory Preparatory School and Continuing Education and Powers Music School in Belmont.
B.M.and M.M. Mannes College of Music; A.D. Yale University; DMA. Boston University; Her principal teachers include professors: Arkady Aronov, Ju-Ying Song, Weiyi-Yang, Boaz Sharon, Victor Rosenbaum, Pavel Nersessian.