Acclaimed for her “staggering virtuosity,” Hanzhi Wang has been praised for her captivating stage presence and performances that display passion and finesse.
A groundbreaking artist, Hanzhi’s firsts include being named Musical America’s “New Artist of the Month,” an appearance New York WQXR’s Young Artists Showcase as the first solo accordionist on the program and the Naxos label’s first-ever solo accordion CD, “On the Path to H.C. Andersen,” which was nominated for the prestigious DR (Danish Radio) P2 Prize in 2019.
Hanzhi won First Prize at the 2017 Young Concert Artists Susan Wadsworth International Auditions which was followed by her Carnegie Hall debut in Zankel Hall. Her Washington, DC debut opened the 40th Anniversary Young Concert Artists Series at the Kennedy Center, co-presented with Washington Performing Arts. She holds the Ruth Laredo Prize and Mortimer Levitt Career Development Award for Women Artists of YCA.
Hanzhi is a prolific performer in recital, chamber music and concerti with symphony orchestras. In recital she appeared at Bravo! Vail Music Festival, Washington Performing Arts, Carnegie Hall, the Krannert Center, University of CA in Santa Barbara, La Jolla Music Society and Stanford Live, among others. She has shown a love of chamber music collaborating with artists that include mandolinist Avi Avital as well as violinist Nicola Benedetti.
Orchestral appearances include Iris Orchestra playing Bach d-minor concerto, the Oregon Music Festival playing “Fachwerk” by Sofia Gubaidulina, Hawaii Symphony, Erie Philharmonic, Reno Chamber Orchestra and the St. Louis Symphony where she gave the world premiere of Nina Shekar’s Accordion Concerto, to name a few.
Hanzhi won First Prize in the 40th Castelfidardo International Accordion Competition in Italy. She inspires the next generation of accordionists with lectures, performances, and master classes at the Manhattan School of Music, Royal Danish Academy of Music, Tianjin Music Conservatory, Ghent Music Conservatory (Belgium), and in Norway and Portugal. Composers Martin Lohse, James Black, and Sophia Gubaidulina have written and dedicated works to her.
Hanzhi earned her Bachelor’s degree at the China Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing. She completed her Master’s degree and Soloist Diploma at the Royal Danish Academy of Music in Copenhagen with the renowned accordion professor Geir Draugsvoll, where she also served as an assistant teacher at the Academy.
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