Zhaoyuan Qin 

Praised for his “dramatic and physical mastery (icareifyoulisten.com)”, “staggering virtuosity
(inthespotlightinc.org)”, and “brilliant technique and musicianship (classicalsource.com)”,
Chinese pianist Zhaoyuan Qin is currently based in Los Angles. He was one of the eight piano
fellows at the Tanglewood Music Center in 2024, and is reinvited to be part of the six piano
fellows in 2025. An avid promoter of contemporary music, Qin has collaborated with world-
renowned composers, such as Marcos Balter and GRAMMY®-award winner Gabriela Ortiz, and
has premiered works by distinguished peers. Qin has appeared in music festivals and conferences
including The College Music Society National Conference (2024), Asian Classical Music
Initiative International Conference (2025, 2024, 2023, and 2022), New Music Gathering (2023),
and Electronic Music Midwest (2023). He performs regularly with University of Southern
California’s new music ensemble, Thornton Edge, directed by Donald Crockett.

Qin has given solo and chamber recitals, including charity concerts, across China and the United
States. He collaborates regularly with instrumentalists and vocalists. In 2021 he performed Liszt
Piano Concerto No. 1 with Conductor’s Orchestra and Andrew Downs at Indiana University. Qin
won the second prize of The Sixth “Premio Citta di Imola” International Piano Competition in
2017. Later that year Qin co-directed, hosted, and performed in Concert of Piano Works by
People of Shanghai Conservatory of Music, which was part of a year-long project consisting of
seminars and student-led research funded by Shanghai Conservatory of Music. Qin was a
participant in the 2019 Art of the Piano festival.

As an educator, Qin has over a decade of teaching experience and has earned excellent reviews
from his students. Qin served as an Associate Instructor at Indianan University, and is currently a
Teaching Assistant at University of Southern California (USC), leading group piano classes and
tutoring non-major private students at both institutes.

In January 2024, Qin co-presented at the Music Teachers National Association Collegiate
Symposium at University of Michigan on the topic “Embracing an Athlete’s Mindset: Physical
Wellness and Injury Prevention Strategies for Musicians.”

Qin is currently pursuing his doctorate in piano performance at USC. In addition to his major
field, Qin’s research includes music teaching and learning, instrumental conducting, and
electronic music. In 2023, Qin obtained his Artist Diploma in piano from Indiana University. He
also holds degrees from New England Conservatory (20’ MM) and Shanghai Conservatory of
Music (18’ BA). Qin’s main piano tutors include Jeffrey Kahane, Ick-Choo Moon, Norman
Krieger, HaeSun Paik, and Hong Huang.