14-Year-Old Violinist Leia Zhu Named London Mozart Players Artist-in-Residence

The Chinese-British violinist will join the ensemble next month beginning with a performance of Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto on October 9, 2021 

As part of her residency with the London Mozart Players (LMP), Zhu will perform as a soloist and a collaborator in chamber concerts and music education outreach projects.

LMP will work with Zhu, her family, her agent, and her teacher Itzhak Rashkovsky, to ensure she will be provided the best training ground to develop her skills. LMP leaders Ruth Rogers and Simon Blendis will be additional mentors to Zhu.

Zhu began learning the violin at age four and highlights of her career include performing solo with the London Symphony Orchestra — where Sir Simon Rattle described her as a “soaring talent.” 

At 12 years of age, Zhu became the youngest artist to join the management roster of London-based artist management agency, Harrison Parrott.

Founded in 1949, LMP is the oldest chamber orchestra in England and one of the most prestigious in the UK. They have been part of a 72-year tradition of supporting rising stars including Jacqueline du Pré, Nicola Benedetti, and Sheku Kanneh-Mason.

Zhu’s official collaboration with the LMP will take place at Croydon’s Fairfields Hall where she will perform Tchaikovsky’s D major Violin Concerto. This concert will also be recorded and broadcast by BBC Radio 3.

“The family-like nurturing environment combined with the highest standard of music making is one which can best be dreamed of,” wrote Zhu on social media. “I am so privileged to be part of the LMP family.”

PABLO DE SARASATE | ZAPATEADO, OP. 23, NO. 2 | SARAH MATTINSON | LEIA ZHU | 14 YEARS OLD | 2021