Qian Zhou (Singapore)
Chinese-born American Qian Zhou is recognized internationally as a violinist, recording artist and teacher of the first rank. After achieving great success at the Marguerite Long-Jacques Thibaud International Competition where she was awarded the First Grand Prize and all five major prizes, she has been a frequent recitalist and soloist with orchestras in Europe, United States, Asia and Africa.
Zhou has enjoyed successful artistic collaborations with many of the world’s great orchestras including all the Baltimore Symphony, BBC Symphony, BBC Scottish, Bournemouth Symphony, China National Symphony, Hong Kong Philharmonic, Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France, Lisbon Metropolitan Orchestra, Limburgs Symfonie Orkest, National Orchestra of Ile de France, New Japan Philharmonic, Osaka Symphony, Rome Symphony, Russian Philharmonic, Singapore Symphony, Shanghai Symphony, Spanish National, Taipei Symphony and the Vienna Chamber Orchestras amongst others while recital highlights include performances at the Amsterdam Concertgebouw, Carnegie Hall, Kennedy Centre, Royal Festival Hall, Suntory Hall in Tokyo and the Vienna Concert Hall.
Qian Zhou’s ten CDs with the Naxos, Hugo and Hungaraton labels have embraced a wide range of repertoire from Bach to Bartok to also drawn praise of the highest calibre. Her recording of the Beethoven concerto was described by Henry Roth in The Strad as “technically impeccable… burnished with beautifully-focused tone, a vibrato that spans the full gamut of colour, and an astute sense of pacing, all replete with sensitive nuances. “ He continued “her phrasing is breath-taking; not a note is ‘wasted’ or ignored, all delivered with a rare nobility of spirit”.
In 2003, She became the founding Head of Strings at the Yong siew Toh Conservatory of Music and her students are achieving successes around the world.
Qian Zhou is currently is the Chair of the artist committee and jury of Singapore International Violin Competition, Artistic Director of Singapore Violin Festival.
Qian Zhou plays a 1757 J.B. Guadagnini, generously loaned by the late Mr Rin Kei Mei and Mrs Rin Kei Mei.
