Joanne Zhou is a sophomore at Newark Academy in Livingston, New Jersey. She began playing piano at age 4. Currently a student of Beatrice Long, Joanne has also previously studied piano with Jennifer Yi and attended the Mannes Prep Pre-College Program from 2019-2023, studying with Lora Tchekoratova. Over the last 11 years, Joanne has won multiple awards in solo piano. In 2018, Joanne won first prize in the Little Mozarts International Competition, and in 2021, she won first place in the Rondo Festival. She was also a finalist in the Young Maestro International Competition in 2022 and 2025, winning a gold and silver medal respectively. Joanne was also a solo winner in the 2023 MEA-NJ Honors Recital and 3rd prize in the New Jersey Federation of Music Clubs’ Fall Piano Competition in 2023. In 2024, she was a Grand Prix winner in Music Fest, and she was a gold winner in the International Young Arts Competition in 2025. Beyond solo piano, Joanne was also a finalist for the Young Musicians Concert for the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center in 2024. Outside of competitions, Joanne plays piano in senior homes near her town and in her church, and studies music composition with Marie Park.
Watch Joanne Zhou perform Improvisation no. 15 Hommage to Edith Piaf in c minor by Francis Poulenc on the piano for the 2025 Autumn Music Competition as part of the Charleston International Music Competition.