Chinese cellist Ziyang Zhao was born in 2008 and began studying cello when she was 8 years old. She currently attends the Shanghai Conservatory of Music Precollege Program where she studies with Jiwu Li and Yinjia Yu for chamber music. In 2021, she was specially selected to participate in the “Sound Talent Helps Fly” program at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music.

Ziyang’s musicality and skill have been recognized at many music competitions and festivals. In 2021, she was awarded 1st Prize and the Outstanding Youth Talent Award in the professional youth cello group at the Golden Classical Music Awards International Competition in New York and was invited to perform in the award concert at Carnegie Hall. In 2020, she won the Special Prize for highest score and 1st Prize in the Fifth Hungary Danube Talent International Music Competition. In 2019, she won 1st Prize in Group D as well as 1st Prize in the Chinese Works Award and Ensemble Group in the Eighth Aegean Cup and the Third International Cello Competition. As a result of this competition, she was invited to perform a solo at the closing ceremony award concert at the Beijing Poly Plaza International Theatre. That same year, Ziyang was invited to perform at another closing ceremony concert in the Finland Sibelius International Cello Art Festival.