Blues Zhang, violin

Meet Blues

Blues performs on Show 431.

Blues Zhang (violin), 18, recently graduated from the Colburn Music Academy in Los Angeles, California. He was born into a musical family, following his early studies with his mother, Zhang Xi, a violinist of the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra; Jeremy Williams, a former member of the Australian String Quartet and director of the Yew Chung International School, and Martin Beaver, faculty at the Colburn School and former 1st violin of the Tokyo String Quartet.

Blues has won numerous awards such as the winner of the Colburn Music Academy Concerto Competition, first prize in the Concerto Class of Hong Kong Youth Catania Music Competition, first runner-up in the Hong Kong Strings Scholarship for Stringed Instruments, and honorable mention in the Musicus Society Young Artist Audition.

Blues has served as the concertmaster of the Colburn Academy Virtuosi, Diocesan Boys’ School’s String Orchestra, and the Hong Kong Camerata Strings. In previous summers and winters, he participated in the Kneisel Hall Young Artist Program, Meadowmount School of Music, New York String Orchestra Seminar, Heifetz International Music Institute, and Asian Youth Orchestra.

Blues is an active musician and has collaborated with the Colburn Orchestra, Musicus Soloists, Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra, and London Chamber Orchestra. He has also performed in various masterclasses with Paul Kantor, Azuri Quartet, Jean-Yves Thibaudet, Clive Greensmith, Frank Huang, Kirill Troussov, Janoska Ensemble, Pavlo Beznosiuk, and Tatjana Masurenko.

Blues is a recipient of the Hong Kong Jockey Club Music and Dance Fund, which sponsors his pre-college studies. In 2023 fall, he will be attending The Juilliard School in New York City under Catherine Cho to pursue his Bachelor’s Degree. Outside of music, Blues enjoys hiking, swimming, cooking, and exploring cities with friends.