Steven Zhai

Steven Zhai is a classically trained pianist from the city of Markham Ontario. Although he has a strong wind instrument background, he is first and foremost a pianist. Steven formally studied under the tutelage of his mother, a former music professor, and performing pianist from Shanghai. He won the 2019 Royal Conservatory of Music Gold Medal for level 9 piano which propelled his musical journey forward. 
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A recipient of the Jean A. Chalmers, Anna Margaret Wallace & William Alexander McCoy, and recently the Swee Kim Ang Memorial scholarships, Steven proved his dedication to the performing arts and used these awards to help further his studies. Steven was asked to be an assistant teacher during his last year in undergrad for the University of Toronto Piano Pedagogy Program, a position normally reserved for graduate students. 

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Recently, Steven finished his Bachelor's Degree in Music Education and a Certificate in Piano Pedagogy at the University of Toronto. Steven was also one of a few successful applicants admitted to the highly competitive and selective University of Toronto Master of Music Piano Performance and Pedagogy Program. Steven has been studying in the piano studio of Dr. Megan Chang for the past four years and will continue to study with her during his Masters.
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This topic has fascinated Steven since elementary school and he is grateful for the opportunity to conduct research on this topic. Recently, he was announced as one of six winners of the 2024 Peter and Patricia Shannon Wilson Undergraduate Research Award for his research project on Anime Piano Music. He hopes to continue researching this topic in graduate school and will be doing his Master's lecture recital on this topic. Steven is ambitious and wants to be a piano performer, music researcher and educator. He hopes to complete his Doctorate in music Degree in Europe.