Zekai Chen, a 15-year-old violinist, began his studies with Professor Xiaocao Sha. He currently studies violin performance with Ming’en Zhou, an Associate Professor at The Music Middle School Affiliated with the Shanghai Conservatory of Music.

Throughout his schooling, Zekai has consistently been awarded the “RENMIN SCHOLARSHIP.” His notable achievements include first prize in the China-Korea International Violin Competition, an award in the Philadelphia International Music Festival Concerto Competition, second prize in the China-Spain International Music Competition, the third prize in the Twelfth Hong Kong International Violin Competition, and third prize in Group 2 of the 2023 Leonid Kogan International Violin Competition. He also won first prize in the Professional Youth Group A and the Chinese Piece Prize at the 2024 Khachaturian International Youth Competition.

At the age of 13, he held his debut solo violin recital. From 2021 to 2024, he showcased his artistry in solo recitals and was selected as a candidate for the Shanghai Little Music Angels Talent Cultivation Program. He has performed with the Shanghai Opera Symphony Orchestra, the Wuxi Symphony Orchestra, and the Harbin Symphony Orchestra, all under the baton of Maestro Muhai Tang. In 2024, he performed with the Armenian State Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Maestro Sergey Smbatyan.

Zekai was admitted to the Morningside Music Bridge Program in 2023, 2024, and 2025. He has participated in masterclasses with esteemed teachers including Donald Weilerstein, Midori, Mauricio Fukas, Noah Bendix-Balgley, Ronald Copes, William Vander Sloot, Ian Swensen, and Hu Kun.

PROGRAM 

SEMIFINALS – Mozart 

Violin Concerto No. 2 in D Major, K.211

I. Allegro moderato

FINALS – Tchaikovsky 

Violin Concerto in D Major, Op. 35

I. Allegro moderato