Combining brilliant command of the instrument with rare musicality, pianist Zheyu (Crystal) Jiang is one of the most promising young pianists of her generation.

During the 2022-23 season, Crystal performed the beloved Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No.2 with the Marshall Symphony, held a successful solo recital at the Tutunov Piano Series in Ashland, Oregon, and taught in Masterclasses at the South Oregon University which were broadcast by the Jefferson Public Radio. She also appeared in the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts in Kansas City as a soloist in front of more than 1500 people as part of the Crescendo Showcase events. Crystal also taught and gave concerts in the South of France at Music at Chateau d’Aix and in Santa Cruz, California at the Distinguished Artist Series.

As a result of winning the gold medal at the 70th Wideman International Piano Competition, Crystal is invited to perform the monumental Piano Concerto No. 2 by Prokofiev as the season Finale of the Shreveport Symphony in the 2022-23 season. Crystal won the grand prize at the 78th Naftzger Young Artists Competition in March 2022. Following her recent success in the US as well as abroad, Crystal was invited to perform in Israel, Austria, and France, and to record her debut album in winter 2022.

Highlights of the 2021-22 season include a performances with the Symphony of Westchester, Lieven International Piano Foundation Summer Concerts, Bösendorfer Salon in Vienna, Abbey Bach Festival in Oregon, and over a dozen concerts and lectures at the Emerald Coast Music Alliance in Florida. Crystal also made her Chicago debut at the Dame Myra Hess Memorial Concert Series, as well as her New York recital debut as part of the prestigious Salon di Virtuosi in early 2022. She also performed in Berlin at the Piano Salon Christophori concert series, and a series of recitals in Israel, including Mozart’s Concerto for Two Pianos (k. 365), with the Tel Aviv Soloist Ensemble under the baton of Barak Tal.

In the past, Crystal has held solo recitals in major concert halls including China National Center of Performing Arts, Wuhan Huangzhong Concert Hall, Henan Opera House, and Vienna’s Musikverein. She performed Prokofiev 3rd Piano Concerto with the Oberlin Orchestra in 2019 as well as Beethoven’s “Emperor” Concerto with the UMKC orchestra to critical acclaim because of winning both concerto competitions.

As a young pianist of the new age, Crystal has been active in music programs and outreach activities. Crystal was invited to participate in the Lieven International Piano Foundation at Musikverein in Vienna in February 2020 and was the director assistant for the foundation – Vienna Summer school, a two-month long, tuition-free, intensive masterclasses & concerts summer program that invites only eight young pianists from around the world each year. In 2019, she started two local monthly concert series in Kansas City and acted and produced music videos on social platforms.