Stephan Zhang – 1st Prize Winner – Young Artist 2024
Stephan Zhang is a 17-year-old violinist from Stillwater, Oklahoma. He began playing the violin at the age of 4, and currently studies with Dr. Yena Lee. Stephan’s first notable award came at 7 years old, winning first place in the American Protégé International Music Talent Competition. Since then, he has been the first prize recipient in numerous competitions including the Keith Competition of the Oklahoma City Orchestra League, OKCPHIL Young Musician Competition, Charleston International Music Competition, OPUS National Music Competition, Hudson International Music Competition, New York International Classical Music Competition, and the American Virtuoso International Music Competition. Additionally, Stephan has performed in masterclasses for Mimi Zweig, Michelle Kim, Paul Kantor, Yoojin Jang, Frank Huang, and the Shanghai Quartet. Beyond his solo achievements, Stephan currently serves as the concertmaster of the Oklahoma Youth Orchestra, and has previously served as concertmaster of Oklahoma’s North Central Honor Orchestra, Oklahoma Youth Philharmonic, Oklahoma All-State Orchestra, NYO2, and most recently NYO-USA, performing Rimsky-Korsakov’s Scheherazade at Carnegie Hall and in Uruguay. He has collaborated with distinguished world-class artists such as Joseph Young, Jean-Yves Thibaudet, Marin Alsop, and Gustavo Dudamel.