Shichao Zhang joins the faculty at University of the Pacific’s Conservatory of Music as assistant professor of practice in piano for the 2026-27 year. 

As a pianist Zhang is an accomplished performer and educator whose career has spanned the United States, China and Europe. Previously, he has served on the faculties of Eastern Illinois University as director of the keyboard division and instructor of piano; the Bienen School of Music at Northwestern University as instructor; the Music Department of Skidmore College as visiting artist-in-residence; and Heilongjiang University of Technology in China as visiting professor.

A graduate of the Eastman School of Music, Zhang earned the Doctor of Musical Arts degree in piano performance and literature with a minor in chamber music and accompanying under the tutelage of Professor Douglas Humpherys and Professor Jean Barr. His dedication to teaching and performing was recognized with the Eastman Teaching Assistant Prize in 2013–2014 and induction into the Pi Kappa Lambda National Music Honor Society. Zhang’s academic journey at Eastman also included earning a Master of Music degree in piano performance and literature in 2014 and a Bachelor of Music degree summa cum laude in 2012, accompanied by the Eastman Humanities Prize. Originally from China, Zhang received his early training in Beijing under Madam Yafen Zhu and Professor Chen Zhang.

Zhang has taught masterclasses and lessons at the Euro Arts Music Festival and Academy in Poland, the Eastman School of Music, East Tennessee State University, Morningside College, Wuhan Conservatory, the Affiliated Middle and High School of Tianjin Conservatory and the School of Music at Minzu University of China in Beijing, among others. His students have been accepted by institutions including Boston College, Boston University, the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, Cleveland Institute of Music, DePaul University, the Eastman School of Music, Indiana University, Ithaca College, the Juilliard School, Manhattan School of Music, Mannes School of Music, Oberlin Conservatory, the Peabody Institute, San Francisco Conservatory of Music, Temple University, the University of Colorado Boulder, the University of Michigan and the University of Southern California.

In addition to his teaching and performing commitments, Zhang currently serves as festival manager of the Amalfi Coast Music and Arts Festival in Italy and festival coordinator of the Gijón International Piano Festival in Spain. These roles reflect his dedication to mentoring young musicians and contributing to international cultural exchange.

Zhang’s musical journey has taken him around the world, with solo recitals, chamber music concerts and concerto performances throughout China, the United States and Europe. He has performed in such notable venues as the China National Centre for the Performing Arts, the Forbidden City Concert Hall, the National Library of China Concert Hall, the Rialto Center for the Arts in Atlanta and the DiMenna Center for Classical Music in New York City. He has premiered compositions by contemporary composers including Xin Huguang, Jin Xue and Julian Cochran, showcasing his dedication to expanding the repertoire of modern piano music. 

In the media, Zhang’s piano playing has been praised as “Mr. Zhang has excellent technique and is a very probing musician (...),” and “Shichao’s performances reflect a great musicality, depth of interpretation, and technical expertise (...).”

Zhang’s performances of Mozart, Mussorgsky, and Dutilleux are available to the public on his Youtube channel.

As an adjudicator for numerous competitions Zhang served on the U.S. Open Music Competition, the MTNA Illinois State Competition, the Hong Kong (Asia) Piano Open Competition, the Prime Golden Bell Music Award of China, the Jiangxi Preliminary of the Third Kyoto International Music Competition and the Macau–Asia Pacific Youth Piano Competition. His work as a performer, educator, adjudicator and arts administrator continues to connect students and audiences worldwide.