BIOGRAPHY

Pianist Zifan Ye was born in 2000 in Inner Mongolia and received his first piano lessons at the age of five. He commenced his professional studies three years later with Xi You at the Conservatory of Music in Beijing during which he was selected to play in various masterclasses of Vladimir Ashkenazy, Michel Béroff, Andrea Bonatta, Boris Berman, Gary Graffman, Krzysztof Jablonski, Menahem Pressler, Piotr Paleczny, and Paul Badura- Skoda.

Praised as an “extraordinary pianist” by China's most influential music magazine, Journal of the People's Music, Ye has performed more than 100 solo and orchestral recitals across Europe and Asia over the last few years, collaborating with the Bergen philharmonic, Valencia Symphony Orchestra, Kassel Uni Symphony Orchestra, Torun Symphony Orchestra, Symphony Orchestra of the Central Conservatory of Music, Tianjin Symphony Orchestra, and Sichuan Symphony Orchestra.

Zifan has also won three WFIMC prizes at international competitions, this year (2022) taking Third Prize at the 17. Grieg International Piano Competition, where he was the youngest prize winner; last year (2021) taking Fourth prize and best finalist prize at the 21. Iturbi International Piano Competition; 4 years ago (2018) taking Fifth prize at the 19. Spanish Composers International Piano Competition.

In prior years he has also won the Gundlach Musikpreis in Hannover (exceeding 24000 Euros); First Prize in the 23rd International Piano Competition “Pietro Argento”; First Prize in the 8th International Piano Competition María Herrero; First Prize in the French International Piano Competition; Second prize in the “Golden Bell Award” in China among many others.

Zifan currently resides in Germany and continues his graduate music studies at the Hanover University of Music, Drama, and Media with Gerrit Zitterbart (2017-2021) and Arie Vardi (2021- now). Zifan currently continues his activities in Europe and Asia. He has been invited to the next session 2023/2024 to perform solo recitals in forty major cities in China. Each hall has about 1200 people. Also, he is an ambassador and sponsored musician for Deutsche Musikleben Stiftung, Edifier Foundation today.