Jing ZHAO (Violoncello)Winner of the 1st prize at the renowned ARD International Music Competition (54th) in Munich in September 2005. In addition, she was awarded the prize for best interpretation of a new work and the audience prize at this renowned competition. Born in Beijing in 1978. Jing ZHAO started playing the violoncello at the age of five. While studying at the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing, she was discovered by the Japanese cellist, Mr. Ryosuke Hori. Deeply impressed by her musical gifts, he arranged to invite her to Japan for further study. In 1996, she received a special scholarship for foreign students from the Tokyo College of Music and enrolled in its affiliated high school. In 1999, she was invited to study at the Karajan Academy in Berlin and graduated from the academy In March 2002. After winning the first prize at the Second Cello Competition organized by Viva Hall in Japan, she has performed under noted conductors such as Seiji Ozawa, Jean Fournet, Myung-Whung Chung, and Riccardo Muti with Orchestra Filharmonica della Scala in Milan in 2000. She is also active in chamber music and performed at various music festivals including Salon de Provence (organized by Emmanuel Pahud, flute, Paul Meyer, clarinet, and Eric Le Sage, piano) and La Folle Fournee festival both in Europe and Tokyo. In January 2007, she was chosen to perform chamber music with H.I.H. Crown Prince Naruhito (Japanese prince) together with Daishin Kashimoto (vln.), Dong-Hyuck Ahn (contrabass), and Myung-Whun Chung on piano. In April 2007, Jing Zhao made a great success at three concerts at Sydney Opera House with Sydney Symphony Orchestra (Shostakovich No.1). Her performance of Prokofiev’s Sinfonia Concertante with Japan Philharmonic Orchestra under the direction of Jun-ichi Hirogami in August 2007 were highly acclaimed. Future engagements include concertos with various orchestras in Japan (Dvorak, Haydn), participations in different music festivals in Europe, three concerts with Konzerthausorchester Berlin In January (Bloch: Rhapsodie hebraique) in January, 2008, three concerts with Gurzenich-Orchester Koln (Tchaikovsky: Rococo and Quigan Chen: Cello Concerto) in March-April, 2008, concerts with Trevor Pinnock and Emmanuel Pahud, concerts with Singapore Symphony Orchestra and recitals. Together with Vadim Repin, Kathleen Battle, and Lang Lang, Jing Zhao is chosen to perform at special Silverster and New Year gala concerts under the baton of Seiji Ozawa at the National Centre for the Performing Arts, newly opened venue in the centre of Beijing, on 31 December, 2007 and 1 January, 2008. The Silvester Concert is to be broadcasted on TV throughout China. Five CDs have been released from Victor Entertainment in Japan. Jing ZHAO has studied under Song Tao, Georg Faust, Ryosuke Hori, and Mario Brunello, and currently studying at the Hanns Eisler Academy in Berlin under David Geringas. With her deep musicality and virtuosity, Jing ZHAO is considered one of the most promising artists now establishing an international career. Jing Zhao uses Giovanni Grancino made in 1690 which is kindly loaned by Mr. Lin Kim Min in Singapore.
