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Pianist Ren Zhang, dedicated to reviving and performing music in the grand romantic tradition, has burst upon the international concert scene as one of the unique pianistic characters of his generation. A native of Shanghai, Ren Zhang began his piano studies at the age of four. At only twelve, he entered the Shanghai Conservatory of Music. In 1987, Ren debuted with the Shanghai Theatrical Orchestra at the Shanghai Concert Hall as the recipient of the Gold Medal of the National Young Pianist Competition. Sponsored by a full scholarship, Ren entered the Manhattan School of Music, studying piano with Solomon Mikowsky. There he earned both his Bachelor and Master of Music degrees and received the Elva Van Gelder Memorial Award. Over the years, Ren's artistry and pianistic style have transformed and personalized. "Lifting it far above musty 'scholarship' into soaring realms of communicative vitality", as one critic commented. Ren Zhang's artistry was further recognized after a highly successful New York recital debut at the Weill Recital Hall of Carnegie Hall, as a recipient of the Shura Cherkassky Award from Artist International, where reviewer Harris Goldsmith praised his performance saying, "This concert was a feast for those who rejoice in the piano as a vehicle for warm, songful expression, orchestral richness and ... tonal adventures." (New York Concert Review) Chosen as the opening recital for the Sarasota Concert Association at Van Wezel Hall, Ren Zhang also appears annually as guest artist at the Tenerife and Lanzarote International Music Festivals in Spain. Other recital engagements have included the Twin Cities Concert Association in California, the Joseph G. Astman International Concert Series in New York, the Rolfs International Piano Series in Florida, and the Hong Kong Piano Series in Hong Kong, as well as appearances at Merkin Hall and Alice Tully Hall in New York. Most recently, Ren Zhang has completed a concert tour in Spain, and was also invited to perform the opening night recital at the Newport Music Festival in Rhode Island. Ren Zhang has released a number of live CD recordings, including works by Rachmaninoff, Chopin, Liszt and Godowsky. His live recordings have been broadcast by many classical radio stations around the country. Both the International Piano Magazine and the American Record Guide have published rave reviews on Ren's live recordings. Famous piano critics, including Harris Goldsmith and David Dubal, have compared Ren’s highly personal style to that of pianistic giants of the “Golden Age”. Ren is frequently featured by David Dubal in his weekly program, "Reflections from the Keyboard" on WQXR, the Classical Radio Station of the New York Times.
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