Nancy Zhou

Violin

Known for her probing musical voice and searing virtuosity, Nancy Zhou seeks to invigorate appreciation for the art and science of the violin. Her thoughtful musicianship and robust online presence resonate with a global audience in such a way that brings her on stage with leading orchestras around the world.

More than 20 years since her orchestral debut, Nancy has collaborated with the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra, Munich Symphony, Hong Kong Philharmonic, New Jersey Symphony, Naples Philharmonic, San Diego Symphony, Milwaukee Symphony, Kansas City Symphony, among others. A passionate soloist who cherishes chamber music collaborations and commits to education, Nancy has performed at festivals including the Verbier Festival, Tongyeong Music Festival, and Marvão Festival; she is a regular guest educator at various international summer festivals, holding masterclasses and workshops on fundamental training and wellbeing for musicians.

Over the years, the violinist's interest in cultural heritage and the humanities resulted in a string of notable collaborations across the US and China. In collaboration with the New Jersey Symphony and Xian Zhang, she performed Zhao Jiping's first violin concerto at Alice Tully Hall; gave the US premieres of Unsuk Chin's "Gran Cadenza" for two solo violins with Anne-Sophie Mutter; performed Chen Qigang's "La joie de la souffrance" with the Rogue Valley Symphony; and, in partnership with the La Jolla Symphony, gave the West Coast premiere of Vivian Fung’s Violin Concerto no.1. On the other side of the globe, the past seasons saw Nancy bringing three cornerstone concerti to China as part of a five-city tour; her collaborative partners included the Shanghai and Guangzhou Symphony Orchestras, and the China and Hohhot Philharmonics.

In the summer of 2025, Nancy embarked on a research trip with Canadian-born Chinese composer Vivian Fung to Zhexiang, China - the hometown village of the violinist's mother, a former professional folk dancer from the Bouyei folk minority. The project culminates with a work for violin and electronics that explores the intersection of music as a cultural force and folk minority culture. That same summer, Nancy released her debut album, STORIES (re)TRACED, in response to these questions; the critically-acclaimed album features four seminal and inextricably connected works for solo violin, including Béla Bartók’s Sonata.

The 26/27 season brings forth collaborations with the San Francisco Symphony/Naomi Woo, Brevard Festival Orchestra/Anna Rakitina, Jakarta Simfonia Orchestra/Rebecca Tong, Harmonia Orchestra/Jeffrey Kahane, Guangzhou Symphony/Mo. Long Yu, China Philharmonic/ Mo. Long Yu, among others, as well as recital and chamber music appearances in Korea, US, and China.

Born in Texas to Chinese immigrant parents, Nancy began the violin under the guidance of her father, who hails from a family of traditional musicians. She went on to study with Miriam Fried at the New England Conservatory while pursuing her interest in literature at Harvard University. Since 2019, she is an Associated Artist of the Queen Elisabeth Chapel. Nancy plays on a1725 Carlo Bergonzi violin.

www.nancyzhouviolin.com

OFFICIAL BIO FOR THE 2026-2027 SEASON.
LAST UPDATED August 2026
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