Iris Zhu

Born in Vancouver, Canada, Iris began her musical journey in 2015 at the age of five, inspired by listening to her older sister practice the piano. Since then, she has pursued intensive and disciplined musical training, studying privately with Alexander Tutunov and Senior RCM Examiner David Vandereyk. Her artistic development has further been enriched through masterclasses with renowned pianists Professor Gary Graffman and Dang Thai Son. Through years of dedicated study and artistic exploration, Iris has cultivated a mature, expressive, and thoughtful pianistic voice.
Iris has received top honors in numerous national and international competitions. In 2018, she won First Prize at the Little Mozart Competition and was invited to perform at Carnegie Hall. In 2020, she was awarded the Canadian Young Artists Standards of Excellence Award through the Steinway Young Artist Program in Canada. Her recent achievements include First Prize at the Pacific Youth International Music Competition in both 2023 and 2025, as well as multiple first-place awards at international festivals and competitions in piano and cello through 2025, including the Sea to Sky International Music Competition. She has been invited to return to Carnegie Hall for another performance in 2026.
An active and versatile performer, Iris has extensive ensemble and collaborative experience. She performed with the Vancouver Youth Symphony Orchestra in 2023 and regularly appears in school and community concerts. Since Grade 8, she has been selected by her teacher to perform O Canada at school assemblies. In addition, Iris serves as the accompanist for her school choir, working closely with conductors and singers in both rehearsals and performances.
Community engagement is a central pillar of Iris’s musical identity. She frequently performs at senior care centers and charity events, using music as a means of service and connection. Her performances have supported fundraisers for organizations including the St. Paul’s Hospital Foundation (2019), the UBC and VGH Hospital Foundation (2021–2024), the EGRC Foundation (2023), and the Canucks Place Children’s Hospice (2025).
Iris aspires to grow as a pianist who honors the traditions of musical excellence while using her artistry to serve others. She believes music is both a profound art form and a powerful vehicle for compassion, and she is committed to inspiring, connecting, and uplifting her community through performance.Born in Vancouver, Canada, Iris began her musical journey in 2015 at the age of five, inspired by listening to her older sister practice the piano. Since then, she has pursued intensive and disciplined musical training, studying privately with Alexander Tutunov and Senior RCM Examiner David Vandereyk. Her artistic development has further been enriched through masterclasses with renowned pianists Professor Gary Graffman and Dang Thai Son. Through years of dedicated study and artistic exploration, Iris has cultivated a mature, expressive, and thoughtful pianistic voice.
Iris has received top honors in numerous national and international competitions. In 2018, she won First Prize at the Little Mozart Competition and was invited to perform at Carnegie Hall. In 2020, she was awarded the Canadian Young Artists Standards of Excellence Award through the Steinway Young Artist Program in Canada. Her recent achievements include First Prize at the Pacific Youth International Music Competition in both 2023 and 2025, as well as multiple first-place awards at international festivals and competitions in piano and cello through 2025, including the Sea to Sky International Music Competition. She has been invited to return to Carnegie Hall for another performance in 2026.
An active and versatile performer, Iris has extensive ensemble and collaborative experience. She performed with the Vancouver Youth Symphony Orchestra in 2023 and regularly appears in school and community concerts. Since Grade 8, she has been selected by her teacher to perform O Canada at school assemblies. In addition, Iris serves as the accompanist for her school choir, working closely with conductors and singers in both rehearsals and performances.
Community engagement is a central pillar of Iris’s musical identity. She frequently performs at senior care centers and charity events, using music as a means of service and connection. Her performances have supported fundraisers for organizations including the St. Paul’s Hospital Foundation (2019), the UBC and VGH Hospital Foundation (2021–2024), the EGRC Foundation (2023), and the Canucks Place Children’s Hospice (2025).
Iris aspires to grow as a pianist who honors the traditions of musical excellence while using her artistry to serve others. She believes music is both a profound art form and a powerful vehicle for compassion, and she is committed to inspiring, connecting, and uplifting her community through performance.

Iris is a Young Steinway Artist.