Zhang Zhang, violinist

What, When, Whoand everything else you wanted to know about Zhang Zhang


What I do today

A member of the Orchestre Philharmonique de Monte Carlo of Monaco. Founder of Zhang & Friends Music for the Planet and the Zhang Zhang Band. Founding member of The Monaco string Quartet with principle players of the Orchestre Philharmonique de Monte Carlo. Member of Ensemble Exploration of Roel Dieltiens, including the participation of an award winning recording for Harmonia Mundi.


November 23rd 2006, at the personal invitation of HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco at the occasion of launching the Foundation Albert II dedicated to the Environment. Zhang was asked to perform a private recital in the Chambre de Trone in the presence of HSH Prince Albert II and foundatuers of the Foundation.
Recently Zhang has participated in a new production of CARMEN with Principle dancers from the Monte Carlo Ballet Company, Choreagraphed by Roldophe Lucas. Zhang's performance included improvisation musically and visually on stage with the dancers. After the success of 6 public performances, this production has been acquired by Ballet Companies in Wisbaden and Rome.
May 19th, 2007, Zhang performed with her band accompanying the flying acrobatic artists of the Studio du Cirque de Marseille et Provence in Branféré, Brittany, France. At the invitation of the French ecologist Nicolas Hulot to celebrate the Journeé du Nature. Zhang Zhang with Guitarist Leopoldo Giannola and Bassist Maieul Clairefond created the music for the 90 minute spectacle in the historical setting of the 18 century park with its original Chateau in the background for more then 5000 people. The music consisted of original compositions, improvisations and original arrangement. Since January 2007, Zhang has frequently performed solo at the Monaco Prison for all the prisoners.
Featured in March 2007 by the international exhibition Les Femmes du Mondes in Cannes, In the first week of June she was featured in La Figaro magazine.

July 2007, Zhang has been invited by the Foundation Nicolas Hulot to become an Ambassador of Défi Pour La Terre To bring awareness of ecological issues to a wider public as well as participating in projects in helping to preserve the environment.


In the fall of 2007, Zhang created a non profit, independent organization ZHANGOMUSIQ, recognized by the government of Monaco.
Its mission: Creating musical concerts for the benefit of humanitarian and ecological projects in progress around the world.
Beneficiaries have included a retirement home for the homeless in Nice, France; the construction project of a fresh water cistern for the nomads of lake Abbe region of Djibouti; restoration of an historical art work of the National Museum of Monaco and funding for the re building of a primary school in Armenia.
The July 30th 2009 Concert in the Rothschild Villa in St. Jean Cap Ferrat raised more than 22000 euros towards the construction of a school for Girls and Young Woman in Afghanistan. In association with Mission Enfance. Funding from the December 2009 concert at the Grmaldi Forum in the presence of HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco by the Zhang Zhang Band created two fresh water wells in Cameroon. Next concert will benefit KONA Basic Needs. Donating Kona Basic Bikes to Africa and Asia.

Who taught me the Violin

My father was my first teacher. He gave me an excellent technical foundation but turned me away from music due to his ambition to produce a superstar. Mr.Victor Danchenko taught me to appreciate being a violinist and developed my interest in becoming a strong performer. Mr. Sergiu Luca made me understand the violin is only the tool to express Music. He liberated me from both technical and mental constrains. He showed me it was possible to be a good musician and a happy human being. He inspired me to really respect and love music. Mr. Pierre Amoyal told wonderful stories of Mr. Heifetz and helped me become aware of the importance of Sound.

Who are my essential Mentors

My mother Lin Ying is one of the most naturally artistic people I know. An award winning film actress, a wonderful pianist and pedagogue, a beautiful singer who loves to dance. She showed me the world through the eyes of a true artist. Searching and finding beauty everywhere. Her unwavering confidence in me and her honesty towards art has been fundamental in my life. Her unconditional generosity and unlimited capacity to forgive makes her my most trusted friend and teacher. Mr. Sergiu Luca with whom I studied for 7 years was the person who lead me towards true self understanding and a honest attitude towards life and music. He helped me to accept what was necessary and forget what was not important; fought the battles that must be won and forgive the wrongs which had to be let go. Most importantly, he showed me a way to reach me own potential.

Schools and Diplomas

When I was a kid my father decided I did not need to go to school. Since I knew how to read already he thought I would be better staying at home to concentrate on the Violin. I did not consistently attend regular school until the age of 12. When we moved to Toronto Canada where it was required by law for children to attend school. I finished Junior High and started performing regularly again around the age of 14, eventually left high school to travel with the Royal Winnipeg Ballet Company of Canada. I took my violin lessons at the Royal Conservatory of Music once a week when I was in town. At the age of 18 I received a full scholarship from Rice University in Houston, Texas to study with Mr. Sergiu Luca. I received a Bachelors Degree in Violin Performance from Shephard School of Music, Rice University in 1995, and a Masters Degree in Performance from the same school in 1997. In 2001 I was awarded the Diplome de Virtuosite from the Conservatoire de Lausanne in Switzerland. Since then the only certificate I obtained was for Scuba Diving. I am a Open Water Diver since 2003.

What I have done

I did actually write down all the things worth mentioning in the classical music kind of way: the concerts I played since the single digit age; solo with which orchestras; played in which master classes; won which awards and so on. But I got bored with looking at my life as a series of concerts, competitions and occasions where I was in close proximity to famous musicians. I have decide to only mention things I am proud of and still excited about.

When I was 8 years old, my grandparents convinced my father that I should actually go to school at some point. For about a year I was in a regular school, where I had friends my age for the first time. In the 1970’s, school children’s biggest dream was to become a ‘Young Pioneer’. It’s a Communist thing. You get to wear a red scarf around your neck for the whole world to see that you are a top kid. Only the best students are given such honour. Not only do you have to have good grades, but you must also have great behaviour. Which meant always be the first to volunteer for any task. And ready to denounce anyone else to the teacher, for bad behaviour like looking at the ceiling during class. I was clearly not eligible. For one thing, I didn’t understand math at all. All the other kids already had a few years of school.

Even though I could write stories better then most but there is no way for me to imagine grade three math on my own. My best friend that year was a boy call Big Protector. He was nominated a Young Pioneer the first year. We both realised our difference in station was not ideal to our friendship. The only thing to be done was for me to also become a Young Pioneer. But my grades were just too bad. He suggested I should use my violin playing skills. That turned out to be a brilliant idea. The following award ceremony was set for January 8, which was the Memorial Day of our deceased Prime Minister. I Learned a piece called ‘ Remembering Our beloved Prime Minister Zhou’. I worked hard. And for that heart felt performance, I was awarded the Young Pioneer’s red scarf. Big Protector him self came on stage to put it around my neck during the ceremony. It was the first time I was glad to be a violinist.

In 1983, my parents and I have been living in Bangkok, Thailand for two years already. We were performing regularly in recitals and private concerts. My parents became well known and had a large following of fans and students both children and adult. I was not quite 10 years old when we left Beijing for Bangkok. By 1983, I have become accustomed to play in public, accompanied by my mother on the piano. I would begin the concert with smaller works and then my father would play sonatas and show pieces with my mother. And everyone’s favourite was the Bach double concerto for two violins where I would join my parents. It was a family act well received by the public. Once again, I stopped going to school.

My life consisted of working on the violin and following my parents wherever they went. By 1983, my family was quite well known in Bangkok’s high society as well as the western circles. An idea was formed to establish a real symphony orchestra in Thailand. Until then, there was only the Royal Band who played on official occasions for the King. It was decided between the Aristocracy and some of the Western diplomatic music lovers that my parents will help found and train a real orchestra.

At the age of 11, I was part of the first violin section. All of the members were amateur musicians. The conductor was the same for the Royal Band. My father was to play a concerto at the opening concert. His other job was to train the string section. My mother was also on hand for rehearsals, helping people read music and count the measures. It took several months to prepare the Beethoven 6th symphony. The orchestra consists of Thai, American, English, Dutch, French and Australian members. Anyone who had some musical training was part of the team: Doctors; diplomats; aristocrats; bankers; painters; housewives and one child musician who did not go to school.

The event was regarded as an historical moment in Thai Culture life. T shirts were made, posters printed and all of the Important People were invited. Thai Royalty; All the Ambassadors; Wealthy Chinese business families and of course, the Press. About one month before the highly anticipated date, my parents received a notice from the Thai Immigration Agency that our visitors visa will not be renewed.

Up until then, we were always able to extend our visa, but this time, there seemed to have been a change in policy towards citizens from mainland China. Everyone went into a panic. Much more then our selves. Due to the importance of the concert and my father’s role as the soloist, without whom the concert can not stand by it self because of the technical limitations of the orchestra, it was imperative that we remained in Thailand until the concert was over.

Many people tried to help, we had at least one ex Prime Minister and a Royal princess who attempted to use their influence to revoke the decision of the Immigration Services. But who ever in charge did not give in to their demands. We were told to return to China two weeks before the concert date.At this point of much discussion and turmoil, some friends insisted on trying to break through the Immigration decision through various means which we were not aware of. Others begin to shower us with gifts and organised dinner parties to say goodbye. One of the members of the orchestra had an idea no one else had thought of.

Ms.Emily Hodges, of the American Embassy’s Visa department suggested that we apply for immigration to one of the Western countries. The procedures were that once the application is submitted, the applicant will received a letter from the embassy saying something like: Thank you for your interest in our country, we will take some time to consider your application and will answer you in such and such time. Emily’s idea was for us to take such a letter to the Thai Immigration to show our intention to leave Thailand as they have demanded, either to a third country or back to China. Only we need time to wait for the answer from the country we have applied to.

My parents chose Canada over USA, Australia and New Zealand. Not because they knew anything about Canada, but because they liked the Canadian flag the best. The plan worked, armed with a letter from the Canadian embassy, the Thai Immigration allowed us more time while we waited for the answer. And the Concert was saved. The Big night went as well as possible. I wore a long black dress made of Thai silk and lace specially made for the occasion. My father played the Bruch concerto beautifully and the orchestra did not make as many mistakes in the symphony as usual. Although the person in front of me keep playing during the rests.

At the official reception after the concert, my parents were met with much enthusiasm for having made such an event possible. The Canadian Ambassador said to them: Canada would be honoured to welcome you. The events which lead to the birth of the Bangkok Symphony Orhcestra, now a professional establishment, also opened a new path in my life.

Touching Performances

One of the most touching performances for me was in 1998. I was playing recitals in some of the Universities in China. Since I left China in 1981, I have rarely the chance to see my grandparents and they have almost never the opportunity to hear me play. For the concert in Qing Hua University in Beijing, I remember seeing my grandmother surrounded by her relatives and friends sitting in the third row. I presented her to the audience and dedicated Schubert’s Ave Maria to her.

The Ave Maria has a special significance in my family. My grandmother’s younger brother used to sing this song to my mother when she was a baby. He was killed during the war at the age of 23. Playing this piece of music was my way of bringing him back to my grandmother. We both had tears in our eyes, and the public saluted her with non-stop applause. My grandmother was 91 years old at the time; she stood up to thank everyone. I will never forget this image. It was a unique moment in my life, where I was able to give a gift beyond any price.

During my university years, I became very interested to try different kind of music. Music other then what was expected from my studies, such as solo work, chamber music and orchestra training. In my freshmen year I volunteered to join the University’s Marching Band called the ‘MOB’. It was really a great way to play music. We always practised out in the open, ran around into formations and played at every Football game.

My instrument was the electric keyboard. We all wore a special costume for the Games, fedora hats, tie and blue vests. Unlike other bands whom practised marching into formation. We scatter into formation and performed each song after we arrived at the designated spot. The quality of the music was very good. We had a few brilliant trumpet players, tall blond skinny guys who majored in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science.

It was very exciting when we are all running towards multiple directions to reach our formation. Yelling and screaming on the way. Avoiding head on collisions. All this, under bright lights in front of about 10 000 spectators was really quite a trip. I have never experienced anything like that.

I ran with two other people. One played the bass guitar, and another girl whose whole purpose was to push the cart where the amplifier and the keyboard were stacked together with cables coming out attaching the bass guitar to the amp. The three of us had to always move together. Avoiding running over fly- by fellow MOB’sters and playing ‘Louis Louis’ at the same time while ten thousand people are shouting and cheering. It was great!

Early into my university studies, I became curious about New Music. I wanted to work with live composers. With a few friends, we founded a string quartet dedicated to perform New Music and especially works by fellow student composers. During my undergraduate years, I have given more then 30 Premier performances of student compositions. Some were very good, some showed much talent and some were just strange. I enjoyed working with composers because the process was often interesting. To be able to ask questions to the composer and participate in shaping a work of music is a meaningful experience.

Eventually I also co- founded a septet including Percussion, Piano, Clarinet, Flute, Cello and Violin. We called our selves ‘Bread and Circuses’. I was proud to be known as the violinist that always said ‘Yes’ to young composers. I wanted to taste everything. To be part of as many projects as possible.

It became clear to me during these experiences that musicians are very much like translators. The composer translates what inspiration he or she has received and puts them into the language of Music. The performers then translate with their performances what has been written on the page. The Audience receives the final result. This idea became very clear to me when my friend Gabriela Lena Frank set some of my own poems to music. At the debut performance, I sat next to Gabby, as Poet and Composer. The piece was for Soprano and two Marimbas.

During the concert, one of the original images which inspired that particular poem came back to me in a flash. The project was a success. The inspiration had came full circle from me as the poet to me as the audience. I was grateful to Gabby and to my friends who performed the work, because they have understood what I wanted to express. Since then I become more appreciative of composer’s feelings and sensitivities. It is so easy to ruin someone’s poem, yet so beautiful to bring it to life...to be continued.