SECOND STAGE: Manyao Zhang, piano | My Song | Graduating Student Project

This recital is titled “My Song,” a reflection of the many voices and emotions that shape who I am. The program journeys from contemporary sound to Romantic lyricism and finally to Classical elegance, tracing a path across time and feeling.

In My Song by Bright Sheng, echoes of Sichuan folk melodies emerge within a modern musical language. The music feels both rooted and searching — a dialogue between memory and the present.

The works of Maria Szymanowska and Fanny Mendelssohn bring a different light to the program. Their music speaks with grace and intimacy — gentle, warm, and deeply expressive. Each phrase unfolds like a quiet confession, simple yet sincere.

The recital concludes with the Piano Concerto by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Here, brilliance and tenderness exist side by side. Bright energy gives way to moments of stillness and subtle sorrow, before rising again into joy. The journey ends not only with celebration, but with a sense of completeness.

Manyao Zhang is a pianist known for her expressive artistry. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Piano Performance from the University of Connecticut, where she studied with Angelina Gadeliya. She is currently pursuing studies in Piano Performance and Collaborative Piano at the Longy School of Music of Bard College under the guidance of Donald Berman and Renana Gutman.

She brings a unique voice to repertoire ranging from the Baroque period to contemporary works, creating moments of beauty and introspection through her artistry. As a pianist, she has performed solo repertoire and participated in master classes with distinguished artists such as Angela Cheng and Vladimir Valjarevic. In addition to her solo work, she has collaborated in chamber music ensembles, performed with the University of Connecticut Symphony Orchestra, and accompanied many singers and instrumentalists.

Manyao is dedicated to exploring how to effectively communicate her thoughts and interpretations through performance, allowing audiences to experience the same emotions she feels toward the music. She strives to create resonance between performer and listener, fostering a shared and meaningful connection to each composition.