At the Thirteenth (2009) Van Cliburn International Piano Competition Haochen Zhang became the youngest and the first Chinese competitor to be awarded the Gold Medal. His performances at the Cliburn Competition were released to critical acclaim by Harmonia Mundi and featured in the award-winning documentary, A Surprise in Texas.

He has since captivated audiences in the U. S., Europe and Asia with his musical sensitivity and spectacular virtuosity. His 2014 debut at the BBC Proms received rave reviews, and a Boston Globe critic wrote, “a pianist with ample reserves of power whose imagination seems nonetheless most kindled by subtle delicacy.”

He has performed with major orchestras including the Philadelphia Orchestra, Munich Philharmonic, San Francisco Symphony, Israel Philharmonic and London Philharmonic.

Haochen gave his debut recital in Shanghai at age five, and at eleven, presented recitals in China’s major cities. At age twelve, he became the youngest winner of the International Tchaikovsky Competition for Young Musicians. He then studied at the Curtis Institute with Gary Graffman, who also taught Lang Lang and Yuja Wang.