Zeyu Shen

Zeyu Shen, piano
Zeyu Shen (2000, Beijing) is a pianist active on the international concert stage, with appearances across Europe, Asia, and the United States.

In 2016, he won the Concerto Competition at The Juilliard School and performed Sergei Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 1 at Alice Tully Hall. He went on to receive First Prize at the Lyon International Piano Competition, where he was also awarded the prize for the best interpretation of Spanish music, becoming the first Chinese pianist to win the competition. Further distinctions include Sixth Prize at the Ferruccio Busoni International Piano Competition, Second Prize at the Scriabin International Piano Competition (with no First Prize awarded), and First Prize at the Delia Steinberg International Piano Competition. 

As a soloist, Shen has collaborated with orchestras including the Leningrad Symphony Orchestra, the Porto Symphony Orchestra, the Grosseto Symphony Orchestra, the Qingdao Symphony Orchestra, and the Tianjin Symphony Orchestra. His performances have taken him to venues and festivals across Europe, Asia, and the United States.  

In September 2025, he performed Sergei Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 3 with conductor Michael Sanderling and the Porto Symphony Orchestra at Casa da Música, with both performances sold out.  

He began his musical training at the Middle School affiliated with the China Conservatory of Music in Beijing, where he studied with Professor Zhang Wei. He later continued his studies at The Juilliard School with Hung-Kuan Chen and Jerome Lowenthal, earning both Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees. He is currently pursuing the Soloklasse at the Hochschule für Musik, Theater und Medien Hannover under the guidance of pianist and professor Bernd Goetzke. 

“What a talent, what a pianist – Zeyu Shen is not only a fabulous virtuoso, but also a musician who, with feeling, knowledge and intuition, explores the depths of his art and takes the listener on this journey. You simply must listen to him!” — Bernd Goetzke (Professor at Hochschule für Musik, Theater und Medien)