Born in 2011 in Manhattan, New York, April Zhang is a piano prodigy. April spent much of her childhood in Colorado, where she began winning many piano competitions from an early age. At just eight years old, she made her orchestral debut performing Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 19 in F Major, K. 459 with the National Repertory Orchestra at the Breckenridge Music Festival.
Over the years, April has earned top awards in highly regarded competitions and festivals. Her accolades include: Grand Prize and First Place at Satori Summer Music Festival, Barum International Competition, International Association of Professional Music Teachers (IAPMT) Grand Autumn Competition; First Place at Carmel Klavier International Piano Competition (piano concerto), Bach International Music Competition; and top winners at International Keyboard Odyssiad and Festival, Bellflower Symphony Association Concerto Competition, CAPMT, IAPMT, Music Teachers Association of California (MTAC), and Music Teachers National Association (MTNA – California State). Recognized for her artistry, April was invited by the IAPMT to perform at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall in July 2025.
In addition to piano, April is an accomplished young flutist. She has performed with several prominent youth ensembles, including the Young Artists Orchestra of Los Angeles, the Pacific Academy Foundation Orchestra, and the Pacific Symphony Youth Concert Band. She has earned placements in the Irvine Unified School District Honor Band, Southern California School Band & Orchestra Association Honor Bands, and the California All-State Honor Band.
Committed to using her talents to serve the community, April has performed in numerous benefit and outreach concerts. In recognition of her volunteerism, she has received The President’s Volunteer Service Gold Award from the White House twice and was honored with the John Philip Sousa Band Award, one of the most prestigious awards for young musicians in the United States.
Watch April Yili Zhang perform Gaspard de la Nuit. III. Scarbo by Maurice Ravel on the piano for the 2025 Global Music Competition as part of the Charleston International Music Competition.