Mingzhao Zhou

Born in Guangyuan, China, Mingzhao Zhou began studying violin at age four under her father’s guidance. Five years later, she was accepted to the prestigious Shanghai Conservatory. In 2001, she came to the US to study with Lucie Robert at Mannes College of Music on a full scholarship and continued her studies to pursue a master’s degree at The Juilliard School with Robert Mann. She has performed in masterclasses held by renowned violinists such as Ruggiero Ricci, Midori Goto, Cho-Liang Lin, and Pamela Frank.

Zhou has won a variety of awards, including first prize of the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Young Artist Competition, first prize of the Mannes Violin Concerto Competition, and third prize of the Bergen Philharmonic Concerto Competition. Since her solo debut performing Mozart's Violin Concerto No. 4 and Bach's Violin Concerto in A Minor with the Sichuan Youth Orchestra of China at age eight, she has performed actively in chamber music and has appeared as soloist with the Texas Music Festival Orchestra, the Mannes Orchestra, the California Chamber Orchestra, and the Camerata New York Orchestra. She has participated in music festivals such as the Verbier Festival Youth Orchestra in Switzerland, the Music Academy of the West in California, and the Texas Music Festival.

Before joining DSO, Zhou served as a violinist in the San Diego Symphony and Albany Symphony Orchestra.