With her deep musicality and virtuosity, Jing Zhao is considered one of the most promising artists now establishing an international career. Jing Zhao, the leading Chinese cellist of her generation, won the 1rst prize of the prestigious ARD International Competition in Munich in 2005 and went on to receive the 2009 Exxon Mobil Music award in Japan. The Great Seiji Ozawa chose her as soloist, together with the violinist Vadim Repin, the pianist Lang Lang and the Singer Kathleen Battle, for the opening new-year concert of the China Grand Theater in Beijing. He had already been instrumental in helping her move to Berlin where she studied at the Karajan Academy, as well as studying privately with Yo-Yo Ma and Maestro Rostropovich.
Recognizing her exceptional talent, Mr. Rostropovich made it possible for her to enter the Class of the renowned Prof David Geringas in the Berlin Hanns-Eisler Hochschule fur Musik. She has performed with noted conductors such as Seiji Ozawa, Lorin Maazel, Ricardo Muti, Andris Nelsons, Myung-Whun Chung, Muhai Tang, Mikhael Pletnev, Yuri Bashmet,Kenichiro Kobayashi, Jean Fournet and Eliahu Inbal among others. Orchestras that have invited her include NHK Symphony, New Japan Philharmonic, Beijing Symphony, Bayerische Rundfunk Orchestra, Munich Chamber Orchestra, Hong Kong Philharmonic, KBS Philharmonic in Seoul, NDR Symphony orchestra, Philharmonica della Scala, Sydney Symphony and the Singapore Symphony.
While in Berlin, Jing Zhao became a very sought after chamber music partner, collaborating with artists such Emmanuel Pahud, Guy Braustein , Daishin Kashimoto, Paul Meyer, Boris Berezovsky, Eric le sage, Antoine Tamestit, Konstantin Lifschitz and Trevor Pinnock. She toured in Asia with Myung-Whun Chung, where they were invited to perform together with H I H Crown Prince Naruhito of Japan.
The great pianist Martha Argerich has chosen to perform and record the Tchaikowsky trio with Jing ZHAO and Dora Schwartzberg during her festival in Lugano, where she is now a regular guest. Other festivals where she performs include the celebrated Jerusalem festival, Zagreb festival, Roland’s Ecke in Bonn WH, Bad Kissingen, Istanbul International festival, Argerich’s Beppu Festival, Folles Journees, etc.
A truly international artist, recognized as a cellist at ease in the most demanding repertoire, and able to radiate her deep musicianship to audiences all over the world, Jing Zhao was born in Beijing, and while studying in the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing with Song Tao, was discovered by the Japanese cellist Ryosuke Hori who brought her to Japan for further studies at the Tokyo College of Music, under an exceptional Scholarship program. While living in Berlin she also participated in the Masterclasses of Mario Brunello and Georg Faust, at the Academia Chingiana in Sienna.
She plays on a Matteo Goffriller Cello (1711) on generous loan to her from a private Foundation. Her upcoming CDs, a Russian album, recorded in London with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra featuring the Shostakovich cello concerto, and a Chinese album, two Tan Dun’s Cello Concertos with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in London with Maestro Tan Dun conducting, both CD were released in 2019.
