Rachel Zhang

Percussionist Rachel Zhang was born in 1987 in Harbin, China’s capital of music. Having a great passion for music, she started to learn piano at the age of three and a half, giving performances on the Children Program of Heilongjiang TV station and Harbin North Theatre. Rachel’s natural sensitivity for music made it possible for her to tell the subtle differences when the teacher tuned the piano. In 1996, Rachel and her parents moved to Shenzhen, where she continued to excell in music. In 1997, she was the principal timpanist in Children Ensemble and Students’ Symphony Orchestra, performing in Shenzhen, Beijing and Hong Kong, which enjoyed high reputation.

In 1999, Rachel enrolled in Shenzhen Art School, majoring in percussion while pursuing piano and composition as well. Invited by Shenzhen Symphony Orchestra, Rachel performed as 2nd timpanist for the 80th anniversary of CPC. In 2002, she was the first-prize winner for marimba in Shenzhen section,. As for the National Teenage Instrumental Competition, she was honored gold medalist. In 2005, Rachel also received the second prize in the first Top Class Marimba Competition held by the Central Conservatory of Music. She participated in international masterclasses of percussion held by Central Conservatory of Music in 2002 and 2004, and was highly praised by Neal from Miami Conservatory of Music in the USA, who wanted her to be his student. In 2006, she also participated in the masterclass of Abe Keiko, the renowned Japanese marimba artist, held at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music, receiving kudos for her performance.

In 2005, Rachel was accepted by three famed Conservatories (Paris Conservatory of Music, Miami Conservatory of Music and Conservatorium van Amsterdam) in Europe and USA, all granting her full scholarship. She finally chose the last one which is also the most up-dated. On the 28th August 2008, Rachel received everyone’s attention with her excellent results in the entrance examination by passing all the seven musical theory courses, later studied with Jan Pustjens，Peter Prommel，Nick Woud，Victor Oskam，Gustavo Gimeno，Mark Braafhart， Arnold Marinissen and Lorenzo Ferrandiz. Shortly after her enrollment, she received the first prize in Princess Christina Concours in Haarlem, the Netherlands, and in the second year, she was selected as the judge for this competition. Rachel participated in many performances recommended by the Conservatory, both in classical music and modern music, including the International Percussion Festival. In 2007, Rachel and Laurent Warnier formed the Joint Venture Percussion Duo, and toured in Netherlands and the European countries. Rachel came back to China with the Amsterdam Percussion Quartet in September 2008, giving performances in Harbin Normal University, Shenyang Conservatory of Music, Central Conservatory of Music and Shenzhen Music Hall. In November 2008, she was granted the opportunity to give performance in the Netherlands International Percussion Festival with well-known percussionists from around the world. In early 2009, Rachel and Laurent attended the International Percussion Duo Competition in Luxemburg which is held every 9 years, winning the fourth prize, which led to them being chosen by Nancy Zeltsman, the famous American percussionist to attend the 8th Zeltsman Marimba Festival, USA, in June 2009. On September 26, 2009, Joint Venture Percussion Duo collaborated with students in the percussion department in Shanghai Conservatory to give a joint performance. In November 2009, Joint Venture Percussion Duo was given the opportunity, as an exception, to participate in the Top Class Music Competition where only students above master degrees or youth performers were qualified to attend. And their excellent performance was applauded by every judge present. As the youngest competitor, Joint Venture Percussion Duo won the first prize in both Vriendenkrans and Het  Debuut Concours, because of which, they are recipients of a scholarship from the Bernard Haitink Fund and embark on a series of concerts throughout the Netherlands in 2011. On the 10th May 2010, Rachel gave her last performance in the music hall of Conservatorium van Amsterdam. Her perfect performance was highly commended by all the teachers and school authorities, who granted Rachel’s certificate higher professional education with the golden letters “With Distinction”, the honor only received by four students in four years. In June 2010, she participated in 9th ZMF held by Conservatorium van Amsterdam. She once performed with Asko/Shoenberg Ensemble in Hallam, Hague, Rotterdam and almost every music hall in Netherlands.

In early 2010, Rachel pursued her master degree in Boston Conservatory of Music with full scholarship, majoring in marimba, studying with world class marimba artist Nancy Zeltsman. She toured the Netherlands in Spring 2011 and was granted the Bernard Haitink Fund again. In May 2011, Looptail, the music sextet based in Amsterdam, was formed, with artists for flute, clarinet, percussion, piano, violin and violoncello. Rachel is the percussionist. In June 2011, she performed in the 10th ZMF in Lawrence University, USA. On August 7, 2011, Rachel was invited to perform in the Chinese Outstanding Youth Percussionist Concert in Xi’an China.

Rachel Zhang is endorsed by marimba one.