Hanzhi Wang
Accordion
“Staggering virtuosity that held the audience in a state of breathlessness, as thrilling to watch as to hear.”
– OBERON’S GROVE (NEW YORK)
Acclaimed for her “staggering virtuosity,” Hanzhi Wang is the only accordionist to ever win a place on the roster of Young Concert Artists in its 63-year history. An ambassador for her instrument, Hanzhi has been praised for her captivating stage presence and performances that display passion and finesse.
A groundbreaking artist, Hanzhi’s achievements include being named Musical America’s “New Artist of the Month,” becoming the first solo accordionist to be featured on New York WQXR’s Young Artists Showcase, and releasing the Naxos label’s first-ever solo accordion CD, On the Path to H.C. Andersen, which was nominated for the prestigious DR (Danish Radio) P2 Prize in 2019.
As the First Prize Winner of the 2017 YCA Susan Wadsworth International Auditions, Hanzhi made her New York debut at Carnegie Hall’s Zankel Hall and her Washington, DC debut at the Kennedy Center, opening the 40th Anniversary Young Concert Artists Series, co-presented with Washington Performing Arts. She holds the Ruth Laredo Prize and Mortimer Levitt Career Development Award for Women Artists of YCA.
Hanzhi won First Prize in the 40th Castelfidardo International Accordion Competition in Italy and continues to inspire the next generation of accordionists through lectures, performances, and masterclasses at prestigious institutions worldwide. Composers such as Martin Lohse, James Black, and Sophia Gubaidulina have written and dedicated works to her.