User:Mylhk/sandbox

Presentation :

Hai Zheng, of her full name Hai Zheng Olefsky is a Chinese world-renowned cellist. She was born in Shanghai, China and came to the United States in 1985 to study at The University of Texas, Austin.

Early Life and studies :

She started her career with a bachelor in music sciences at the Shanghai academy of music from 1978 to 1983. She moved to Austin,Texas and did her master degree in the University of Texas from 1985 to 2000 in parallel to her assistant teacher work. She enjoys as much performing as a concert cellist as traveling all around the world. She married a violinist ( Paul Olefsky ) and had a daughter and a son.

Career as a music professor :

She has taught as a professor of music at St. Stephen’s, Austin since 1999. She assists in the recruitment of students from East and Southeast Asia. She is also an associate director of the International Program, a coordinator of Chinese Studies and a cello teacher in the fine arts department.  St Stephen is a caring and inclusive multicultural school community.

Musical Career :

Concert cellist Hai Zheng recorded as soloist with the English Chamber Orchestra in London and the Amatius Orchestra in New York at Lincoln Center. She performed as soloist with orchestras in Europe, North America, and Asia, with Paul Olefsky in England and with Aldo Parisot in China. She made her European debut at the Oxford Town Hall in England and at Carnegie Recital Hall. Her appearances include solo/chamber music concerts at Wigmore Hall, at the Bösendorfer Saal in Vienna, New York's Steinway Hall, Barge music series in NYC, and a Canadian debut at the Guelph International Music Festival. These concerts were highly acclaimed by The New York Times, Oxford Daily Mail, and Strad Magazine. As a winner of the Feuermann International Cello Competition, she participated in the 2nd International Cello Festival in Kronberg, Germany. She has recorded five CDs. Her recording of Tchaikovsky’s Rococo Variations with the English Chamber Orchestra was chosen as a “top pick” by the magazine Recording Direct.

Hai Zheng and her violonist husband, have recorded Vivaldi's double cello concerti with the English Chamber Orchestra and appeared with the Chicago Strings for Bach's double violin concerti on two cellos and their live performance was broadcast over PBS in Chicago.

She was a guest cellist with the Enso, Miró and Shanghai Quartets. Her visits to China included a special concert for the Asia Society in Hong Kong, master classes and recitals at Shanghai, Guangzhou and Macau conservatories. She returned from performing a special homecoming recital at famous Gulangyu concert hall at the invitation of the Xiamen University. Her recent concerts included master classes and recitals at Duke University and Chinese Culture University in Taipei, Taiwan. She was on the jury panel for the Jackie McGehee Young Artist Competition sponsored by the Music Guild of New Mexico. She was invited to present a master class, solo performance and was a guest judge for the Haydn Cello Concerto Competition at TCU International Cello Festival . Her fifth Asia concert tour in 2016 included recitals and master classes in Bangkok, Thailand, Yong Siew Toh-Asia’s International Conservatory in Singapore and China Conservatory in Beijing.

In 2000, she founded the biennial Young Musician Festival and Competition (for piano and strings) to provide an avenue for the young, budding artists in Austin to shine. She is recognised by many actors in the Asian musician scene in the US.

“We are very fortunate to have such a generous and talented artist in District 10 and Hai deserves this recognition by the Mayor and the City Council”.“I also believe she will be a good role model to inspire other talented artists to step forward in our community.” - Amy Wong Mok, Founder and CEO of the Asian American Cultural Center and the President of the Asian American Community Partnership Assistant Professor of Music Hai Zheng Olefsky was also honoured by Austin Mayor Steve Adler and the Austin City Council with a special proclamation on Thursday, May 10, 2018, for her contribution to the community as the Artistic Director for the Young Musicians Festival Competition at the Asian American Cultural Center for the past 18 years.

Discography :

Available on all the streaming platforms such as Spotify, Apple Music of YouTube, she has 185 monthly listeners on Spotify to this day. Her first EP “Rhapsodie” (23 tracks) is available on Apple Music (2010). Her album “Remembrance” (8 tracks, 57 minutes)in collaboration with Kiyoshi Tamagawa as a cello-piano duet is available on Spotify (2016).

The others are not available online.

Press quotes :

“The successful performance represented the most distinguished achievement of the young generation of New China.” Shanghai Art Press, China

“In classical and modern selections, she (Hai Zheng) deftly shifted from a delicate touch to a brazen ferocity that belied the age and experience of the performer.” Dallas Times Herald, USA (Front page)

“A performer of formidable stature…playing (Rococo’s variations) with glowing warmth and sentiment.” “Zheng communicates its most agitated character (in its premier recording of Tcherepnin’s Mystere) with convincing intensity of spirit and technical command.” The Strad Magazine by Henry Roth (Amatius Classics CDs review)

“First Rate” “Impeccable and gracefully shaped…warmth and subtle coloration…marvelously detailed and emphatic…beautifully turned account of Tschaikovsky’s ‘Rococo’ Variations.” The New York Times, USA (After New York debut recital at Carnegie Recital Hall by the New York Times Senior Music Critic-Alan Kozin)

“Hai Zheng…..gained in seamless transition between the registers.” “…with bracing passion, technical accuracy…” The Strad Magazine (Review from the Wigmore Hall Concert)

Zheng “…projects warm and romantic tone” “These are international artists of high stature, their playing was always graceful, with impeccable musicality.” Guelph  Mercury (Review from the Rectial at Gueph International Spring Festival)

Contact :

LinkedIn: Hai Zheng

Bibliography :

1. Zheng-Olefsky, H. Hai Zheng-Olefsky. Southwestern University.

  https://www.southwestern.edu/live/profiles/25793-hai-zheng-olefsky

2. Hai Zheng-Olefsky. St. Stephen's Episcopal School.

  https://www.sstx.org/list-detail?pk=190110

3. Hai Zheng-Olefsky. RateMyProfessors.

  https://www.ratemyprofessors.com/professor/275635

4. Zheng-Olefsky, Hai Zheng-Olefsky: Cellist Portfolio.

  https://haizhengcellist.myportfolio.