Austin Symphony Orchestra

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Sha Zhu

Image as Sha ZhuViolinist Sha Zhu joined the Austin Symphony Orchestra in 1988 and two years later joined the Austin Lyric Opera Orchestra with tenure from both orchestras. Ms. Zhu, originally from China, graduated with a B.A. degree at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music with honors (China), with a graduate study of music performance at University of Montreal with fall scholarship (Canada), and with a M.A. degree at the University of Texas at Austin.

Ms. Zhu’s orchestra appearances have included the Beijing Opera Orchestra (China), Guangzhou Symphony Orchestra (China), and Laval Symphony Orchestra (Canada). She has performed solo and chamber music in China, Canada, and the United States. In the fall of 1987, Ms. Zhu was honored with the Honorary Citizenship Award by the Governor of the State of Texas. This award was given to ten outstanding Chinese students at the University of Texas at Austin.

She is also the proud mother and the violin teacher to her only son and best student—Charles Yang, born a month after she joined the ASO. Charles Yang is a scholarship student at the Juilliard School in New York City. His numerous awards include the ASO’s Youth Award when he was 12, followed by his performance of the Saint-Saëns Violin Concerto with the ASO. His many honors include “Cultural Leader Young Master” in Texas and official proclamation of June 9th, 2005 as “Charles Yang Day” by the Mayor of Austin. Charles Yang was also a featured violinist in “From the Top”: Live from Carnegie Hall, a showcase of the nation’s top young classical musicians, which came to PBS in April 2007.

Ms. Zhu has been invited as mother and teacher with her son’s study and performance nationwide and worldwide including Interlochen (MI), Aspen (CO), Boston (MA), Cincinnati (OH), Juilliard (NY), ShenZhen (China), Beijing (China), Taibei (Taiwan), Hannover (Germany), Munich (Germany), Vienna (Austria), and St. Petersburg (Russia). She seen and learned much from such experiences. Ms. Zhu has been a faculty member at St. Stephen’s Episcopal School since 2005. She also has a private studio at her home in Austin’s Westlake area. She has donated her talents to the church and community. She loves the young people and likes to share her love for music with her students.