Eric Zhang is 15 years old and is currently a sophomore at Bedford High School. He was born with a bilateral cleft lip and palate and has had seven surgeries performed on him from the young age of three months old until now.
Eric started playing the piano when he was five years old. He has accomplished much in the field of music, winning prizes in multiple local and international competitions. Last year, he advanced to the quarterfinal round of the Gina Bachauer International Junior and Young Artists piano competition. He is currently a finalist for NPR’s “From the Top”, as well as being a recipient of both the Wanda Paik and Nancy Olivia awards from NEPTA. Eric has performed in the Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall, the DiMenna Center for Classical Music, the Kresge Auditorium at Interlochen, the Museo del Violino in Cremona, and Auer Hall at the Jacobs School of Music. Eric is thankful and feels very fortunate to have participated in masterclasses with various distinguished professional pianists.
Music is a big part of Eric’s life. He says, “Whenever I play the piano, I feel nourished and refreshed. Interest in classical music is dwindling in the modern world, so I want to use my talent and passion to give everyone the opportunity to explore classical music. I want to use music to give back to the FFC community and our incredible medical team. Thanks to their efforts, I was able to grow up normally and pursue my dreams as a pianist.”
Eric has volunteered to offer the FFC community free piano tutoring lessons. He also played many songs for the FFC community to enjoy and raise money for FFC. Although the fundraiser is over, you can still listen to the playlist on our YouTube channel.