2024 Adjudicators

Li Zhang, is an erhu instructor at the Laurier Academy of Music and Arts (LAMA), the music director and erhuist of the Grand River Chinese Orchestra, and the erhuist of the Qi Ensemble. She began her musical journey at the age of four in her hometown of Beijing, China, studying erhu with renowned erhu masters Xunfeng Jiang and Yongning Liu. She expanded her musical knowledge and received a BA (2007) and MA (2009) from Wuhan University. She also participated in the cultural exchange program of Université Paris Diderot-Paris VII and Wuhan University in Paris, France.

She won multiple National Music Competitions, including the National Chinese Music Competition as the erhu soloist in the Fiddle Concerto "Medley of Five Strings", First Place in 2006, and the People's Scholarship in China (2007, 2008). She was invited to the Great Hall of the People Concert and performed for the Chinese President, and was invited to perform for national leaders at the Beijing Concert Hall and Zhongnanhai, Beijing.

She was the concertmaster of the Beijing Jinfan Chinese Orchestra (1998), Wuhan University Chinese Orchestra (2005), and Waterloo Chinese Orchestra (2014), as well as a guest musician in organizations such as the Canadian Dongfang Chinese Orchestra. Other than erhu, Li also has collaborated with the Wuhan University Symphony Orchestra and Beijing Xiaobaishu National Orchestra to perform famous traditional jinghu and banhu repertoire such as "Deep Night", "Galloping Steeds", "The White-Haired Girl", and "Days of Emancipation". She also participated in music exchanges and performances in Europe, America, and Asia.

She taught erhu and held regular masterclasses at the Xicheng District Conservatory of Music and the Mentougou District Conservatory of Music in Beijing (2010-2014). Students have achieved awards in various major competitions.