Kevin Zhu

American violinist Kevin Zhu is an artist in constant evolution. Searching for stories through sound, Kevin believes that music is a powerful catalyst for communication between past and present. Spontaneity, a sharp eye for detail, and peerless mastery of the instrument define his musicianship and embolden his unrelenting pursuit of new interpretation. Kevin first came to international attention with early successes at the Yehudi Menuhin and Paganini Competitions. His young career has since taken him to renowned concert halls across the globe, ranging from the Konzerthaus Berlin to the Esplanade in Singapore, London’s Royal Festival Hall to the Forbidden City Concert Hall in Beijing, and Bozar Brussels to The Kennedy Center. Favorite performing memories include concerts on Paganini’s famed violin ‘Il Cannone’, invitations to the Moritzburg Festival in Germany in consecutive years (including one edition where he was asked to step in on short notice—twice—in the span of a week), and a performance of Kreisler’s Liebesfreud for the pandemic-era Musical Storefronts series in New York City which moved children to dance upon hearing the music. Contrast is an essential part of Kevin’s musical ethos. He has earned praise in varying repertoire for both “infinite delicacy” and “wild intensity, the audience crushed in their seats by the violence of what had happened” (RTBF Belgium). His playing is acclaimed for “absolute virtuosity, almost blinding in its incredible purity” (L’ape musicale) yet also “has soul, character, an inner life, with meticulousness and a great deal of sensitivity” (Dresdner Neueste Nachrichten). Kevin studied with Itzhak Perlman and Li Lin at The Juilliard School, where he holds a Bachelor’s degree. Kevin performs on the c1700 “ex-Petri” Antonio Stradivari violin, on loan from the Ryuji Ueno Foundation and Rare Violins In Consortium, Artists and Benefactors Collaborative.