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Xiaowei (Steven) Zhao is a senior in the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme at Trabuco Hills High School, where he pursues his passion for the intersection of finance and the arts. Combining leadership experiences and initative, he aims to brings both creative discipline and curiosity to every endeavor.
A classical pianist for over a decade, Steven has performed and competed across the country, earning recognition for both his artistry and commitment. He is a gold medalist at the 2023 Southern California Junior Bach Festival and the 2024 MTAC State Concerto Competition, as well as a first-place winner in the SoCal Philharmonic Young Artist Competition and the Pacific Stars International Piano Competition (2025). He made his orchestral debut in 2023 with the Saddleback College Symphony Orchestra and has since been featured as a soloist with the Southern California Philharmonic Orchestra, performing Chopin’s Piano Concerto in E Minor. After which, he joined the orchestra as a pianist, and has been serving on SocalPhil's internship pilot program, organizing and volunteer in its associated events.
His performances have taken him to renowned venues including Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall, Gerald R. Daniel Hall (CSULB), Sharon Martin Hall, McKinney Theater, and Paul Recital Hall at The Juilliard School, among others. In 2024, Steven was selected as one of only 22 pianists worldwide to attend the Juilliard Summer Piano Intensive, where he worked closely with distinguished faculty from top U.S. conservatories such as Juilliard, Curtis, and Mannes. He currently studies under Angela Leu and Dr. Kirill Gliadkovsky through Saddleback College’s dual enrollment program and has studied and performed in masterclasses with globally recognized artists such as Emanuel Ax, Soyeon Kate Lee, Aaron Wunsch, Grace Fong, and Pavlina Dokovska.
In 2024, Steven presented his debut solo charity recital, performing an hour-long program that drew an audience of over 100. The event raised over $1,300 for the Global Health Fund, supporting global initiatives in the fight against AIDS and cancer. That same year, he appeared in A Song in the Dark, a short film produced by Chapman University MFA students, portraying a pianist whose haunting music bridges ambition and emotion during a campus blackout.
Beyond the stage, Steven channels his creativity and leadership into community work. He serves as President of Between You and I, a student-led nonprofit uniting over 500 students from 57 schools through arts-based volunteerism. The organization hosts weekly performances and art workshops at local senior centers and has raised over $5,000 for humanitarian causes, including disaster relief in Taiwan, Myanmar, and Los Angeles.
Outside of music and service, Steven enjoys visual art and competes as a varsity lacrosse player for both Trabuco Hills High School and the Saddleback Stags club team.
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