Embracing the imagery and emotion in every piece finally led Hannah Zhang to love music
Growing up in Maryland and taking music lessons from the time she was 5, Hannah Zhang used to dread sitting down at the piano.
“There’s nothing in the world I hated more,” the 19-year-old recalls. “I’d ask to do chores. I’d rather do dishes than play the piano.”
Then, around the age of 9, her attitude did a complete 180. She believes the turnaround happened when she started lessons with a vibrant, creative instructor – Dmitri Nazarenko.
“I guess he saw some kind of potential in me,” Zhang says. “I started working much harder. He was so good at talking about how to approach the music. He’d never say, play this faster or slower. He’d say, what does this piece remind you of? Think of this animal and play it again.”
It was the imagery, the emotion and the story behind the music that hooked Zhang on playing and coincidentally, caused her talent to skyrocket.
Not even a year after starting with Nazaranko, she made her solo debut at Carnegie Hall. She also took up an interest in the violin, dividing her time between strings and piano, playing violin as co-concertmaster in Maryland Classic Youth Orchestra’s Philharmonic and, having just completed her first year at Northwestern University’s Bienen School of Music, in the university’s Chamber Orchestra. Now relishing her first summer in Breckenridge as the National Repertory Orchestra’s 2024 piano fellow, Zhang is looking forward to her inaugural orchestra solo.
On Aug. 7, she will perform Hungarian composer Franz Liszt’s beloved Piano Concerto No. 1.
“It’s a classic Liszt piece, kind of a technical beast. I was terrified to approach it. At first, I was like, how am I supposed to play that?” Zhang says, adding that she’s been spending her free evenings practicing at the Riverwalk Center. “Now I’m really just excited to show people what I can do with this piece; to show this is my connection to the composer and it’s not the same as anyone else’s. This is a huge experience for me, a life-changer.”
One of the summer highlights for Zhang has been watching fellow NRO musicians step to the front of the stage. Witnessing the beauty of their performances has helped sooth her nerves and transform her anxiety into excitement as she awaits her big solo moment.
“One of the most memorable experiences this summer was when one of our concertmasters – Will [Thain] – played his concerto. His sound was just so gorgeous. Watching other people’s solo performances has been really special to me. Everyone is so talented here. I get to watch them and think, that’s going to be me. I have to live up to that.”
Zhang will also join the orchestra to perform Gustav Holst’s epic musical suite, The Planets, which will include a multi-media component centered around inspiring NASA images. However, as with the actual story behind many famous musical works, The Planets is not written about the subject its title implies. Even Holst himself described the piece as “a series of mood pictures” and prescribed a character to each of the planets/movements. For example, Mars is the Bringer of War, Venus the Bringer of Peace, Jupiter the Bringer of Jollity, etc.
“It’s about astrology not astronomy,” says NRO Music Director Michael Stern, who will conduct the Aug. 7 performance. “It’s an essential piece for musicians to play, but also a profound, wonderful experience for audiences.”
While the story of the music delves much deeper than the physical components of the solar system, the visuals along with the emotional journey of the piece is something every type of audience member can embrace, even children.
“It’s a piece that brings up many emotions,” Zhang says. “Mars starts off fiery and just grabs you. Jupiter feels like a lot of colors, all swirling together. For people who aren’t typical orchestra fans, with all the movements and the color depiction, The Planets is easy to listen to. It sweeps you away.”
The Planets, featuring Guillame Connesson’s Flammenschrift, Franz Liszt’s Piano Concerto No. 1 and Gustav Holst’s The Planets, kicks off at 6 p.m. Aug. 7 at The Riverwalk Center in Breckenridge. Tickets start at $20 for adults and $5 for children.
Photo: by Elaine Collins.