Jiyuan Zhang
Adjunct Instructor - Collaborative Piano
SFA 312A
(501) 450-5750
Dr. Jiyuan Zhang is a Chinese pianist whose artistry has captivated audiences across North America and Asia. A graduate of Michigan State University, she earned a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Piano Performance under the mentorship of Deborah Moriarty. She previously earned a Master of Music from Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music, studying with Robert Roux, and a Bachelor of Music from the University of Michigan, where she studied with Logan Skelton. During her undergraduate studies, she received University Honors for three consecutive years and was named James B. Angell Scholar, in recognition of outstanding academic achievement.
Dr. Zhang’s early training began at 3 years old. After studying at the Shanghai Conservatory Preparatory Division, she went to Interlochen Arts Academy, studying with Dr. Thomas Lymenstull. While at Interlochen, she served as an International Student Ambassador. She received the Young Artist Award for three consecutive years and a Fine Arts Award for her artistic achievements, in addition to being a two-time winner of the Interlochen Concerto Competition.
Dr. Zhang has achieved wide recognition on both national and international stages. She received second prize at the Lennox International Concerto Competition (performing Liszt’s Concerto No. 1), second prize at the national level of the MTNA Piano Competition, and first prize at both the divisional and state levels. Internationally, she received third prize at the Asia-Pacific International Chopin Competition in Daegu, Korea, and was a first-prize winner of the International Steinway Youth Piano Competition in Beijing. As the winner of the University of
Michigan Concerto Competition in 2018, she performed Rachmaninoff’s Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini with the University Symphony Orchestra, under the baton of Kenneth Kiesler.
As a soloist and collaborator, Dr. Zhang has performed in leading concert venues such as Hill Auditorium at the University of Michigan, Duncan Recital Hall and Stude Concert Hall at Rice University, Shanghai Concert Hall, and the Shanghai Oriental Art Center. She has appeared as a soloist with orchestras including the University of Michigan Symphony Orchestra and the Shanghai Philharmonic. In addition to traditional repertoire, her work often highlights Chinese composers, as in the program Sounds from the East to the West, supported by the University of Michigan’s Confucius Institute.
Dr. Zhang has also been active as an orchestral pianist and chamber musician, performing extensively with symphony bands and orchestras throughout her education. She served as Principal Chair in Keyboard at the Shepherd School Symphony Orchestra at Rice University from 2018 to 2020. In addition, she performed as an orchestra pianist with the University of Michigan Symphony Orchestra as well as the University of Michigan Symphony Band throughout multiple concert seasons, including featured recordings and live performances. She has recorded for Naxos, Equilibrium Records, and Shanghai Music Publishing House, collaborating with musicians such as Joseph Alessi, Chad Burrow, and Le Zhang on recordings of works by Bolcom, Kaprálová, and contemporary Chinese composers.
During her doctoral studies at Michigan State University, Dr. Zhang worked as a Teaching Assistant, teaching Class Piano and accompanying for multiple instrumental studios. Previously, she worked as a Departmental and Curricular Assistant at the University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance. In 2025, she was invited to serve as a preliminary round adjudicator for the IPPA Conero International Piano Competition.
Dr. Zhang is the recipient of numerous scholarships and honors, including the Ralph Votapek Endowed Scholarship, Burt Duke Raiza Prize, Stevenson-Bartholomew Merit Award, and Gill Foundation Scholarship. She has participated in masterclasses with world-renowned artists including Vladimir Ashkenazy, Lang Lang, Kirill Gerstein, Michel Dalberto, Jerome Ross, Daniel Shapiro, Alexander Kobrin, Borris Slutsky, and Fou Ts’ong.