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The piano in the University | 03 April 2025

The piano in the University

Milan

Monica Zhang

Program

introduction by Prof. Enrico Reggiani

F. Chopin (1810-1849)
4 mazurkas op. 33
Waltz op. 64 n.2
Waltz op. 70 n.1
Polonaise in F-sharp minor op.44

S. Rachmaninoff (1873-1943)
Variations on a theme by Chopin op. 22

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Monica was born in Milan in 2007. From an early age she showed a great interest in the world of music and at the age of 8 she began studying the piano. Under the guidance of Catia Iglesias and Vincenzo Balzani he has achieved a long series of victories in important International Competitions such as:

– 1st prize at the International Tadini Piano Competition in Lovere;
– 1st prize at the 32nd Piano Competition "Città di Albenga";
– 1st prize at the Steinway Piano Competition in Verona;
– 1st prize and Young prize at the International Pianotalents Competition;
– 1st prize at the Nuova Coppa Pianisti Competition in Osimo;
– 1st prize at the International Music Piano Festival (IMPF) in Paris;
– 1st prize at the "Pozzolino" International Competition in Seregno;
– 1st prize at the International Piano Competition The Neapolitan Masters in Naples;
– 1st prize and special prize for the under 18 piano section at the "Città di Riccione" Musical Execution Competition;
– 1st prize at the 14th Adilia Alieva International Piano and Young Instrumentalists Competition in Geneva – Switzerland;
– 1st prize at the Beethoven International Piano Competition with the orchestra;
– 1st prize at the International Piano Competition "A. Scriabin" in Grosseto;
– 1st prize at the Sonja Pahor European Competition;
– 1st prize and special prize Sergio Fiorentino at the Sergio Fiorentino International Piano Competition;
– 2nd prize at the Juliusz Zarebski International Piano Competition in Warsaw;
– 1st prize at the Danubia Talents International Music Competition in Hungary;
– 1st prize at the International Fujairah Piano Competition of the United Arab Emirates;
– 1st prize at the International Piano Competition "Gloria Artis" in Vienna;
– 1st prize at the 33rd Piano Competition of the City of Albenga;
– 1st prize at the Franz Liszt Center International Piano Competition in Spain;
– 1st prize at the Odin International Music Competition in Estonia;
– 2nd prize at the "Piano Neuchâtel –Val de Travers" International Piano Competition 2021 in Switzerland;
– 1st prize and special prize for the best performance of a piece by Chopin at the International Piano Competition "Città di Arona";
– 1st prize at the Orbetello Piano Competition
– 1st prize at the International Great Masters Piano Competition
– 1st prize and 1st prize overall in all categories at the Italian Final of the Steinway Competition. In August 2021, he played at the Hamburg Festival, where he represented Italy.

In 2017 she performed at the South Tyrol Festival with the presence of the President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella and in 2018 she was invited by Andrea Bocelli to play at the concert he held for the Robotics Festival at the Teatro Verdi in Pisa. In the same year, at the age of 11, she gave her first recital at the Teatro Antonio Belloni in Barlassina and performed in Milan at the Giorgio Gaber Auditorium for the Società dei Concerti.

In 2019 he held a concert in the Sala Eutherpe in Leòn in Spain and a concert at the Monferrato Classic Festival in Quargnento. Later he gave a concert at the Conservatory of Pescara for the 50th anniversary of the foundation of the Institute. She was invited by Steinway & Sons to give a recital for the Literary Society of Verona. In the same year she played in Paris at the Conservatory of Courbevoie and in August she was invited to play for the Orbetello Piano Festival and in Dobbiaco for the South Tyrol Festival. In September he played at the Teatro Marcello in Rome for the Festival delle Nazioni, Concerti del Tempietto. Later he played at the Teatro delle Muse in Pineta for the Piano Festival FVG.

In 2020 he gave a recital for Spazio Classica in Milan. In September she was invited to play in Cernobbio at Villa Bernasconi for the Società dei Concerti.

In 2021 she was invited by the "Società dei Concerti" Foundation to give a recital at the Teatro Ariberto in Milan.

In August he participated in the Masterclass at the Academy of Music in Camerino organized by the ABF – Andrea Bocelli Foundation.

During the global pandemic, Monica also participated in the projects organized by Pianofriends "Chopin tells his story", "Family novel of a universal genius" and "Vicini ma distanti" curated by Vincenzo Balzani.

She is a regular guest at the Antonio Belloni Theatre in Barlassina.

At the same time, she continues her preparation with constant study and professionalism that allow her to perform in various concerts in Italy and abroad.

Great music in Milan

The PIANO IN THE UNIVERSITY project is the result of an agreement between the Milan branch of Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore and one of the most important houses in the world of musical instruments, Kawai Pianos of Hamamatsu (Japan). Its promoters are the Master Davide Cabassi (lecturer at the Milan Conservatory) and Prof. Enrico Reggiani (director of the Studium Musicale di Ateneo) as artistic creator and scientific director, respectively.
The aim of the project is to contribute to enriching the musical offer of the City of Milan according to innovative criteria and methods from a cultural-musicological point of view and of the highest artistic profile, first of all, by establishing a chamber music season at the Aula Magna of the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart of Milan that will make use of established and prestigious names of international piano concerts.

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