We were lucky to catch up with Weiwei Zhai recently and have shared our conversation below.

Weiwei, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Are you able to earn a full-time living from your creative work? If so, can you walk us through your journey and how you made it happen?

When I was 19, I came to study at the Manhattan School of Music on a full scholarship. My goal was to achieve financial independence and artistic excellence, fully aware that a music degree does not guarantee a stable, well-paid 9-to-5 job. Living in New York is expensive. After graduation, I have worked by performing in concerts and teaching piano. I now earn a full-time living from my music career, but I don’t think I could have sped up the process; everyone has their unique timeline and journey.

My first big break came when I won first prize at the Eisenberg-Fried Concerto Competition, performing Scriabin’s piano concerto under the baton of the esteemed French conductor Philippe Entremont. This achievement opened many doors, leading to invitations from concert curators to perform in various concert series in New York City and Beijing. Since then, I have performed in prestigious venues such as Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall, the Harvard Club of New York City, Beijing National Library Performing Arts Center, Trinity Church at Wall Street, Klavierhaus, Steinway Hall, and the Century Association. I have played both solo recitals and chamber music concerts and collaborated with members of the Grammy-winning quintet Imani Winds and Grammy and Latin Grammy-nominated pianist Allison Brewster Franzetti. I was also invited to perform at the Bowdoin International Music Festival, the PianoTexas International Festival and Academy, and the InterHarmony International Music Festival in Italy.

At the beginning of my career, I dedicated much time to building my repertoire, which continuously evolves and expands. This process allows me to express myself with a unique voice. It is essential that the music I perform resonates with me personally and also reflects both current and historical events, as our audience seeks a meaningful connection through music. As artists, we convey our thoughts, ideas, and emotions authentically and vulnerably.

Throughout my career, I have been involved in several recording ventures. My quintet, Morningside Tone Collective, collaborated with renowned jazz saxophonist and composer Jeff Lederer. Our recording, Balls of Simplicity, was released by Little (i) Music in 2023 and is accessible for streaming on platforms like YouTube and Spotify. It received a favorable review from Marc Corodo at All About Jazz. Furthermore, I have a YouTube channel that serves as a music education platform where I showcase musical performances, delve into discussions about music, and unravel the narratives behind compositions. I am also frequently invited to provide musical entertainment at various events, ranging from professional conferences to fundraising dinners and galas, ensuring an enjoyable atmosphere for the attendees.

As an educator, I have worked as a piano and keyboard skills instructor at the Manhattan School of Music and as a staff pianist at Mason Gross School of the Arts, Rutgers University. At Rutgers, I coached and accompanied college students to prepare for concerts, competitions, and recording sessions. I have also participated in numerous outreach programs at public schools in Brooklyn and partnership after-school programs through the Bloomingdale School of Music. Here in New York City, I run my piano studio while juggling teaching engagements at various schools. My client base has grown steadily, primarily through word of mouth—recommendations from current students, friends, and even chance encounters with people I’ve met at concerts or connected with on social media. My approach is simple: I connect with my students through our shared passion for music and build a solid foundation together.

As you can see, there are many revenue streams you can draw from as a performer. However, I believe that building a lasting connection with the audience is the most important aspect. First, developing a creative and intriguing program for the presenters is crucial. Second, offering the audience an intentional musical journey creates a space for people to pause from their daily routine, listen, and connect with their inner selves and others.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I got into music when I started learning piano at a young age. My parents wanted me to cultivate a hobby, and gradually, I became more dedicated to the practice and began playing more classical piano repertoire. I enjoyed it very much. Playing and sharing music with others makes me feel happy and fulfilled.

I am passionate about sharing the richness of music, especially pieces by Asian composers, as I am Chinese. The classical music scene needs to embrace and celebrate diverse cultural traditions. In my upcoming concert at Carnegie Hall on June 9, I am excited to play a Chinese piece, Wang Jianzhong’s “Liuyang River.” My students will be performing music by Hungarian and Japanese composers. Additionally, I am the founder of the Jose & Weiwei guitar and piano duo, which explores Baroque, Classical, and Romantic Era repertoire with influences from Puerto Rican and Chinese folk traditions. We invite everyone to experience the vitality of our adventurous programming.

I love teaching piano to students of all ages and levels. Every student is different, and I believe in tailoring their learning experience to suit their individual needs and growth. My motto is, “How can I help?” Beyond piano playing, there is so much to be learned—discipline, problem-solving, collaboration—skills that are invaluable in our daily lives. I guide my students toward achieving their artistic and personal goals with patience and encouragement. My students have won top prizes in piano competitions and have performed in celebrated venues, including Carnegie Hall and Steinway Hall in New York City.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

At the beginning of the pandemic, I had fewer students to teach and fewer concerts to play. Online stream concerts and Zoom lessons presented their own challenges and limitations. To overcome these obstacles, I delved into thorough research to discover a more intriguing repertoire and program wisely for online concerts.

During that time, I collaborated with violist Daniel Lamas for a “Midnight in Paris” concert, which received critical acclaim from the New York Concert Review. Our program covered various musical expressions, from the late Romantic to the Neo-classical era.

For Zoom lessons, I began making deeper connections with my students. I edited piano duet videos, created playlists, arranged movie and video game soundtracks, and developed and played music games with them to make the lessons more enjoyable and engaging. Many of these methods are still integral to my classroom and online teaching today.

Throughout this period, my students and their families also demonstrated resilience, providing me immense support. Today, I continue to teach a few students online, some of whom have relocated to other states post-pandemic or find online lessons better suited to their schedules.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

Music has the ability to connect and transform lives. I started learning piano because my family views music as a sanctuary, providing calmness and grounding during life’s ups and downs. I consider it a privilege to be a musician. The most rewarding aspect of being an artist is the opportunity to help the audience feel rejuvenated or renewed through the magic of sound. Many audience members have shared with me how certain pieces evoke memories of their childhood piano lessons or listening to their family members practice, creating a sense of comfort and familiarity. Others have expressed how music brings them joy and relaxation after a long workday.

As an artist, I constantly evolve, and engaging in many exciting projects keeps me motivated. I am working towards releasing my solo album, carefully curating a program that includes music from my home country and pieces by composers who have inspired me and my audiences. The Jose & Weiwei Guitar and Piano duo will also release two music videos on our YouTube channel this month.

I am also looking forward to touring with the genre-defying trio TAKE3 in the upcoming season, participating in their “bold and aggressive” performances highlighted by the LA Times and their outreach events to local schools across the US.

Spreading the joy of music far and wide and making music education more accessible to the younger generation is extremely rewarding and meaningful.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.weiweizhaipiano.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/weiweizhaipiano/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/weiwei-zhai-doctor-of-musical-arts-dma-9b8a91114/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@weiweizhaipiano

Image Credits

Tatiana Daubek
Wang Kaige