9th Annual Student Concerto Competition Winner - Zi Hao Yang
Zi Hao Yang, 16, is a high school junior clarinetist at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts. A native of China, Zi Hao started playing the clarinet at the age of 7. He began to study with Mr. Ren De Zheng of the Shanghai Conservatory at the age of 11. Zi Hao was admitted to the Shanghai Conservatory of Music a year later. Zi Hao has won numerous prizes and competitions while his time in Shanghai. Zi Hao made his public debut at the Eastern Arts Center in Shanghai, China in 2007. He was a finalist in the 2006 National Clarinet Festival Competition of China in Shenzhen.
In May 2007, Zi Hao was invited to participate in the Bucharest Music Festival in Romania. Zi Hao was placed first at the National Young Artists’ Musical Competition held in Beijing, China in August 2007. Zi Hao has toured Germany as principal clarinetist with the Shanghai Conservatory Symphony. Zi Hao also made his China tour with them in September 2007.
Zi Hao came to the United States in 2009, and was soon admitted to the UNC School of the Arts. Zi Hao was the winner in the Raleigh Symphony’s annual Concerto Competition, and will make his solo debut with them in May. Zi Hao has performed and participated in master classes given by Alan Kay of the Juilliard School, German concert clarinetist Sabine Meyer, Jonathan Cohler of the New England Conservatory, and Wenzel Fuchs of the Berlin Philharmonic.
Zi Hao currently studies clarinet and chamber music under Mr. Alexander Fiterstein. In his spare time, Zi Hao enjoys playing basketball, magic, and traveling. Zi Hao resides in Winston-Salem, NC.
Our second place winner is Charlton Holt and third place winner is Alex Langevin.