Program
| Composer | Work | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Johann Sebastian Bach | French Suite No. 5, BWV 816 | 1725 |
| Ludwig van Beethoven | Piano Sonata No. 8 in C minor, Op. 13 “Pathétique” | 1798 |
| Intermission | ||
| Toru Takemitsu | Rain Tree Sketch | 1982 |
| Frédéric Chopin | 4 Mazurkas, Op. 17 | 1833 |
| Ballade No. 4 in F minor, Op. 52 | 1842 | |
| Franz Liszt | Paraphrase de concert sur Rigoletto, S. 434 | 1859 |
About the Artist
Zach Hoi Leong Cheong
Hoi Leong (Zach) Cheong began his piano studies at the age of four with Ms. Lilik Sutiono. A Licentiate of the Royal Schools of Music and Fellowship Diploma holder of the London Trinity College, he has studied at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts with Professor Gabriel Kwok for eight years under a scholarship from the Academy.
Zach is the winner of the Musicus Young Artists Audition (Hong Kong, 2022). Past awards include First Prize and the Special Excellence Prize in the 19th International Chopin Piano Competition in ASIA (Japan, 2018), and First Prize in the 81st Steinway and Sons International Youth Piano Competition (China, 2017). He was also a winner of the 2017 Hilton Head International Piano Competition.
Zach made his orchestral debut with the Macao Orchestra at the age of 9, and continued to collaborate with other orchestras, including Hilton Head Symphony, Macao Youth Symphony (Macau, Paris, Marseille), Trondheim Soloists (Norway), Shanghai Conservatory of Music Youth Orchestra and St. Paul’s Co-educational College Alumni Orchestra (Hong Kong). Zach is also a fervent chamber musician.
From 2018 to 2023, Zach was the Robert Ehrman Fellow at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia. While at Curtis, Zach studied with pianist Robert McDonald. Zach is currently working towards a masters degree in piano performance at The Juilliard School under the direction of Mr. McDonald.
About Curtis
The Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia educates and trains exceptionally gifted young musicians to engage a local and global community through the highest level of artistry. One of the most selective schools in the United States, Curtis accepts four percent of applicants each year on average, and a tuition-free policy ensures that talent and artistic promise are the only considerations for admission.
With a small student body of about 175, Curtis ensures that each young musician receives an education of unparalleled quality, distinguished by a “learn by doing” philosophy and personalized attention from a faculty that includes a high proportion of actively performing musicians.
Curtis students hone their craft through than 200 orchestra, opera, and solo and chamber music offerings each year and programs that bring arts access and education to the community. This real-world training allows these extraordinary young musicians to join the front rank of performers, composers, conductors, and musical leaders, making a profound impact on music onstage and in their communities.
Curtis on Tour is the Nina von Maltzahn global touring initiative of the Curtis Institute of Music. An embodiment of the school’s “learn by doing” philosophy, it offers students real-world, professional touring experience alongside celebrated alumni and faculty. In addition to performances, musicians offer master classes, interactive programs, and community engagement activities while on tour.
In addition to national and international tours, Curtis on Tour manages professional performance engagements for Curtis students and recent graduates, providing emerging artists with the matchless experience of appearing with leading ensembles and presenting organizations.