Supported by Texas Ballet Theater made possible by a generous grant from Anne T. & Robert M. Bass Learn more about Texas Ballet Theater: https://texasballettheater.org/about/ ZHONGHUA WEI 魏中华 China I 14 2023 Cliburn International Junior Piano Competition and Festival Semifinal Round Concerto Movement Thursday, June 15, 2023 Caruth Auditorium at SMU I Dallas, Texas USA LISZT Piano Concerto No. 1 in E-flat Major, S. 124 (II, III, IV) with Mikhail Berestnev, accompanist About Zhonghua Wei “Classical music is my best friend who can comfort me, inspire me, encourage me, and chat with me in my heart. It is an eternal, unsurpassed culture, and I hope I can become a narrator of music to help spread it.” Zhonghua Wei began his piano studies piano with Jay Sun, his current teacher, when he was 5 years old, gave his solo recital debut at the age of 10, and by the age of 12 had studied the complete Well-Tempered Clavier of Bach, etudes of Chopin and Liszt, and Mozart Sonatas. Currently attending the Xinghai Conservatory Middle School, he has placed in several national Chinese competitions, including Pearl River Kayserburg (first), Steinway (second), and Xinghai Cup (first). And he just won the 2023 Hilton Head International Competition in South Carolina. Of his approach to music, he says: “The music itself drives me to play it. I think it is so interesting and beautiful—carrying life, history, and feelings—and I want to find out these things, to perform what the composers want to say, to integrate my own understanding in it.” Coming to the Cliburn Junior, he’s looking forward to receiving feedback from the jurors and other experts, and to hearing and making friends with the participants. Outside of the piano, Zhonghua enjoys reading, badminton, biking, and meditation.