Dr. Ruisha Zhang

Dr. Zhang is a dedicated pianist, educator, and Suzuki-trained teacher with 16 years of experience in both performance and pedagogy. Committed to nurturing young musicians, she blends her performance background and academic research to foster each student’s musical growth. Her teaching philosophy is rooted in the Suzuki Method, which she has studied through Book 6 with Sachiko Isihara, Faye Adams, and Diana Galindo. Believing that every child can thrive musically in a nurturing and structured environment, she integrates Suzuki principles—listening, repetition, and encouragement—with traditional approaches to develop not only technical and expressive skills, but also confidence, discipline, and a lifelong love for music.

Her students have demonstrated remarkable achievements both nationally and internationally. They have earned prizes in local competitions such as the John Walker Competition in California and at regional, state and national levels of the MTNA Competitions. On the international stage, her students have won top prizes in prestigious events including the Charleston International Music Competition, the Danubia Talents International Music Competition (Two-Piano Division), and the Artciál International Piano Competition. Moreover, Dr. Zhang’s students consistently excel in their ABRSM exams, achieving distinctions and merits in both Performance Grades and Theory sections.

As a performer, Dr. Zhang has given numerous solo and collaborative recitals worldwide. Her solo appearances include venues like Mudd Theater and Kresge Chapel in California, Bristol Chapel and Williamson Hall in New Jersey, and the Music Arts Center in Guangdong, China, where she presents a diverse repertoire ranging from Baroque masterpieces to 20th-century works. She is also an active chamber musician, regularly performing in violin-piano and saxophone-piano duos and trios at recitals and festivals. Additionally, as a former member of the Westminster Symphonic Choir, Dr. Zhang has performed at prestigious venues such as Carnegie Hall, the Kimmel Center, and Princeton University Chapel, collaborating with the Philadelphia Orchestra and other leading ensembles.

Dr. Zhang earned her Doctor of Musical Arts in Piano Performance from Claremont Graduate University in 2023. Her dissertation, “Exploring a Potential Shift in Piano Pedagogy: Perspectives on Instructing Young Piano Beginners in the Playing Technique and Musicality of Historical Keyboard Music,” reflects her focus on the intersection of early music performance and pedagogy. She has also presented lecture recitals, including “A Magnificent Structure Built Up by Small Materials—Analysis of Liszt’s Sonata in B Minor, S.178,” showcasing her analytical insight and artistic depth.

Dr. Zhang is an active member of professional organizations such as MTNA, CAPMT, and the Dalcroze Society of America.