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Nathaniel Zhang

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On Sunday March 23, the Polish Heritage Society of Philadelphia (PHSP) held its annual Chopin Concert. The performance, took place at the Settlement Music School in the Germantown neighborhood of Philadelphia and was devoted strictly to the work of Fryderyk Chopin. It consisted of: Etude Op. 25 No. 11; Nocturne Op. 27 No. 1; Mazurkas Op. 59; Sonata No. 2; Barcarolle; Etude Op. 25 No. 6; Scherzo No. 2. The soloist was Nathaniel Zhang, and he gave an outstanding performance, giving a strong emotional interpretation of Chopin's music. This year he placed 3rd at the Miami Chopin piano competition, and will participate in the Chopin Competition in Warsaw, Poland later this year. He is from Folsom, California and started studies at Philadelphia's Curtis Institute of Music in 2024, studying piano with Michelle Cann as the Gay Elliot Scott Fellow. He also studies with Sasha Starcevich. A recipient of the Chopin Foundation Scholarship, Nathaniel has performed as a soloist with the Seattle Symphony, Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra, Florence Conservatory Orchestra, and more. He won first prize in the MTNA Junior Performance Competition and the Waring International Junior Solo and Concerto Competitions, and top prizes in the Hilton Head International Piano Competition, Nashville International Chopin Piano Competition, and the International Piano-E Competition. He was a 2023 National Young Arts Finalist. Nathaniel has performed at Carnegie Hall, was featured on National Public Radio's program From the Top and ABC World News: America Strong, and attended the Frost Chopin Academy and Morningside Music Bridge festivals. After the performance there was a small reception for the audience which permitted some socializing. The Polish Heritage Society, an affiliate of the national American Council for Polish culture conducts various cultural events every year. It also awards scholarships to outstanding students of Polish background.

Photographs

(l. to. r) - Board of the Polish Heritage Society of Philadelphia - Janusz Romanski, Peter Obst, Jewls Rogowska Teneva, Margaret Zaleska, pianist Nathaniel Zhang, Debbie Majka, Tiffany Loomis, John Wisniewski, Diana Blichasz, Michael Hrabowski

(l. to. r) Peter Obst, President of the Polish Heritage Society of Philadelphia; Paul Krzywicki; pianist Nathaniel Zhang; Deborah Majka, Chair of the Fryderyk Chopin Concert Committee and Honorary Consul of the Republic of Poland for Southeastern Pennsylvania

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