# Jessica Zhu
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{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2020}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2025}}
{{Short description|Chinese-American pianist}}
{{More citations needed|date=January 2025}}
{{Update|date=August 2020}}
'''Jessica Zhu''' (born October 22, 1986) is a Chinese-American pianist who is currently undertaking a doctorate in musical arts (DMA) under the supervision of Paul Roberts and Caroline Rae at the [Guildhall School of Music and Drama](/source/Guildhall_School_of_Music_and_Drama), in London. She previously received a Master in Performance (MPerf) and an Artist Diploma with distinction from the Guildhall, where she studied with full scholarship as a 2009 [Marshall Scholar](/source/Marshall_Scholarship).[List of the [http://www.marshallscholarship.org/scholars/profiles/2009scholars/t-z 2009 Marchall Scholars]]
==Early life and education==
Zhu was born in [Shanghai](/source/Shanghai), [China](/source/China), where she began her musical study.
At age 11, she moved with her family to [Sugar Land](/source/Sugar_Land%2C_Texas), [Texas](/source/Texas), near [Houston](/source/Houston), where she studied piano for six years with John Weems.[[http://globalnewsbox.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=186&Itemid=200 Electrifying: London’s new concert pianist star Jessica Zhu]{{Dead link|date=February 2026 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }} by James Brewer. GlobalNewsBox.com, 20 September 2011. Retrieved 2012-06-19.] After graduating [Stephen F. Austin High School](/source/Austin_High_School_(Fort_Bend_County%2C_Texas)) in Sugar Land, she completed her undergraduate studies in 2009 summa cum laude from the [University of Houston](/source/University_of_Houston) ([Moores School of Music](/source/Moores_School_of_Music)), where she studied with renowned pianist-pedagogue Nancy Weems.
Zhu has been invited to participate in master classes of pianists such as [Pascal Rogé](/source/Pascal_Rog%C3%A9), [Angela Hewitt](/source/Angela_Hewitt), [Anton Kuerti](/source/Anton_Kuerti), [Stanislav Ioudenitch](/source/Stanislav_Ioudenitch), [Antonio Pompa-Baldi](/source/Antonio_Pompa-Baldi), [Peter Frankl](/source/Peter_Frankl), [Abbey Simon](/source/Abbey_Simon), [Yoheved Kaplinsky](/source/Yoheved_Kaplinsky), and Nelita True.
==Concerts and performances==
Zhu made her debut at age 19 in 2006 with the [Houston Symphony](/source/Houston_Symphony) in Jones Hall.[{{Cite web |date=2020-05-05 |title=Jessica Zhu @ PIANO WEEK |url=https://pianoweek.com/jessica-zhu/ |access-date=2025-01-01 |website=PIANO WEEK International Festival & Summer School |language=en-GB}}] She gave her debut recital in Zilkha Hall of the [Hobby Center for the Performing Arts](/source/Hobby_Center_for_the_Performing_Arts) in downtown Houston.
In April 2010, Zhu performed with the [Worthing Symphony Orchestra](/source/Worthing_Symphony_Orchestra) in [Sussex](/source/Sussex), England, under the baton of John Gibbons.{{citation needed|date=December 2025}}
Zhu has also performed recitals for the Rockport Performing Arts Series in Rockport, Texas, the San Antonio Tuesday Musical Club, [Missouri State University](/source/Missouri_State_University) Fite Family Music Festival Young Artist Series, the McKinney Musical Arts Society in Dallas, the Wichita Falls Symphony League's ''First Night in the Falls'' Arts Festival.{{citation needed|date=December 2025}}
Zhu has also performed at the Texas Music Festival, Aspen Summer Festival in [Colorado](/source/Colorado) and the Banff Arts Centre in Canada. She has been featured on ABC Television Network KTRK Channel-13 ''Visions'' program and KUHF 88.7 FM radio ''The Front Row'' arts magazine.{{citation needed|date=December 2025}}
==Competitions and prizes==
* Silver medalist in the 2004 Junior Isabel Scionti Piano Solo Competition.
* Grand-prize winner of the Texas Entergy Young Artist Competition in 2006
* First prize winner of the 2008 San Antonio Tuesday Musical Club Young Artist Competition
* National Winner of the Young Artist Piano Competition of the 2008 Music Teachers National Association piano competitions in Denver, for which she received a Steinway & Sons grand piano.
* Laureate of the [Sussex International Piano Competition](/source/Sussex_International_Piano_Competition) 2010, receiving Third Prize and the Audience Prize.["A 'thrilling' finale is assured in Worthing", Shoreham Herald, 10 April 2010 (see [http://www.shorehamherald.co.uk/leisure/A-thrilling-finale-is-assured.6217523.jp article])]
* First prize at the Hastings International Piano Concerto Competition 2011.