Steven Zhou
Steven Zhou of Lilburn, Georgia, has studied piano privately with Debra S. Hughes for the last 12 years. He has consistently and consecutively earned superior ratings for Piano Solo and then, beginning in ninth grade, Senior Concerto, as well, so to be awarded the NFMC President’s Cup. He personally chose to do Rachmaninoff’s Prelude in G Minor along with a Beethoven Sonata as a capstone for his many years of Federating piano solo. He has won piano awards locally at GCMTA’s Music Day, GMTA Local Auditions and 2nd place in Gwinnett County’s West Federation’s competition as a 9th grader. This year Steven won the 1st place Gwinnett County West Scholarship Award given at Federation Festival and Honorable Mention for GCMTA’s JR/SR Senior Scholarship Contest. As a pianist he has enjoyed performing at recitals and community service venues. He has participated in the Tri-M Honor Society which admits students who meet the criteria of music participation, academic achievement, character strength and service to give students a chance to perform, be in leadership positions, and offer opportunities to serve the community. He will graduate this May from the Gwinnett School of Mathematics, Science and Technology – one of the top ten ranked high schools in the USA. Steven also enjoys playing the violin at school for the past 7 years and performed for the Emory Youth Symphony Orchestra and Georgia Allstate. His future college plans includes going to Georgia Tech where he is hopeful to continue playing piano with other musically inclined peers. “Steven will be sorely missed in my studio because of his steady, kind personality, as well as, his constant pursuit of musical excellence!” says his instructor, Debra Hughes, “I wish him the greatest of success!”.
