Acclaimed violinist Jay Zhong performing the classic virtuosic collection by Eugene Ysaye, a combination of poetry, virtuosity, colors, and originality.

15 MP3 Songs
CLASSICAL: Romantic Era, CLASSICAL: Orchestral

Show all album songs: Eugene Ysaye's Six Sonatas for Violin Solo: Opus 27 Songs


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Noted as a violin virtuoso, teacher, and composer, Jay Zhongâs musical mastery and versatility have earned him the reputation of an encompassing musician and intriguing artist in his generation.

Violinist Jay Zhong gave his first public recital at age 8, and made his American debut at age 16, performing a recital on New Yorkâs Carnegie Hallâs main stage (later known as the Isaac Stern Auditorium). He has appeared as a soloist, both in recital and with orchestra, on four continents of the globe and has earned critical accolades for his performances in some of the most coveted music venues in the world. His unquestionable command for his instrument and original insight for the music he performs have captivated audiences and musicians around the world. The Washington Post described his performance as ânimble and unassumingâ¦restrained but incisive, and without the bombast that some performers find so irresistible.â Brusselsâ Le Soir hailed him as âchinois solarâ, Californiaâs Pacifica Tribune called his interpretation of Brahms âa golden explorationâ, while his performance of works by Beethoven won such praise from El Colombiano of Medellin: âJay Zhong, super-violinist, with interpretation worthy of an analogyâ¦â An avid chamber musician, Mr. Zhong has been on roster of the International Chamber Players, Inc., Bogota International Music Festival Chamber Ensembles, and served as first violinist in Western Illinois University's faculty ensemble Julstrom String Quartet.

A well-respected teacher, Mr. Zhong is currently the Violin Professor and Director of String Program at the California State University, Los Angeles. Previously, he has held violin professorship at the Western Illinois University, Bogota International School of Music, and the Young Musicians at Purchase program of the State University of New York. He has taught master-classes at the University of Delaware, University of Kansas, the Bogota International Music Festival, Western Illinois University, California State University, Los Angeles, and has given a master-clinic on modern violin pedagogy to the faculty of Chinaâs elite Beijing Central Music Conservatory.

An active writer, Mr. Zhongâs essay âChinese Concert Music, A Renaissanceâ was published by China Music Journal of Chinese Music Society of North America and distributed to 160 countries worldwide. He is also the author of the violin-training textbook, âA Violinistâs Handbook, A Simpler Manual to Learn the Instrument,â published by iUniverse Publications Inc., available worldwide via online booksellers.

Jay Zhongâs original creativity has driven him on a course of self-training in composition since his early teens. Today he has a library of original works that include solo instrumental, chamber music, and orchestral pieces. Mr. Zhong has been a featured composer in the Walla Walla Symphony Whitman College Recital Series, New Music Festival of Western Illinois University, Montgomery Fellowship Concert Series in Alabama, University of Delaware Faculty Concerts, and the Ohio Opera Orchestra Concert Series. He is a consecutive winner of the ASCAP Plus Award.

Born in Beijing, Jay Zhong began studying violin at age 4 with his violinists-parents. He won a national audition at age 11 with the fiendish Paganini Violin Concerto No.1 and entered the violin studio of Ke Qiang Sui in the prestigious Beijing Central Conservatory of Music. At age 12, following his successful recital at Beijing Concert Hall, he was chosen by the Communist government to represent China in 1986's Beijing International Violin Competition. Instead, Jay Zhong fled the country to pursue studies in the United States. In New York City he was a pupil of the late Russian pedagogue, Raphael Bronstein, an Auer violin-school exponent. Jay Zhong later completed his training with the celebrated violin master Elmar Oliveira. Mr. Zhong holds a Bachelor of Music degree from the Manhattan School of Music and a Master of Fine Arts degree from State University of New York at Purchase. His extra-ordinary talent was recognized at age 14 by legendary violin master Nathan Milstein and subsequently promoted by Milstein's agent, concert impresario Harold Shaw.

By invitation, Mr. Zhong has performed on some of the most valuable violins in the world, including the 1717 Stradivarius from New York's Metropolitan Museum of Arts, a Pietro Guarneri and a Ruggieri loaned to him by collector Jacques Francais, the "ex-Oliveira" 1692 Stradivari loaned to him by violinist Elmar Oliveira, and a Joseph Gagliano loaned to him by luthier Dupin de Saint Cyr. Currently he is the proud owner of two violins made for him by Chinese luthier Qing Yang Liu, which he named âbella Lisaâ and âthe Bearâ respectively.