Chinese tenor Zihao Liu is an artist of stunning vocal agility and exceptional musicianship. Despite growing up in a non-musical family, he has loved music since early childhood, taking private piano lessons at age four and joining a children’s choir at age six. He made his debut at the age of seven as a soloist at Chongqing Grand Theatre, and since then has wanted to explore the music of the world. Today his vocal repertoire spans the ages, from Renaissance masterpieces to contemporary experimental music, with a special focus on art song, particularly that of China.
Before he came to USA, his musical experience included recording projects, recitals, and soloist appearances with choirs of his elementary school, middle school and high school. When he was 8 years old, he participated in The World Peace Choral Festival in Vienna, Austria with Chongqing Renming Elementary School Choir. Mr. Liu designed and created his high school graduate solo recital in Chongqing Library Recital Hall. In 2017, he was accepted by his dream schools, Central Conservatory of Music of China and Manhattan School of Music.
Recent solo appearances include Lord Tolloller in Sullivan and Gilbert’s Iolanthe; the tenor soloist in Beethoven’s 9th Symphony with the Bard Conservatory Orchestra and along side with mezzo-soprano Stephanie Blythe; the Schoolmaster in Janáček’s The Cuninng Little Vixen; tenor soloist in Handel’s Messiah with The Orchestra Now. Mr.Liu has performed several solo recitals in the States and China, as the Nurse in Monteverdi’s opera L’incoronazione di Poppea. Mr. Liu’s opera scene work includes Nemorino in L’elisir d’amore, Tamino in Die Zauberflöte, and Don Ottavio in Don Giovanni. In 2022, he was one of the artist of Art Song Festival in Cleveland. In 2020, he participated in Chautauqua Opera Conservatory, studying with Marlena Malas. Mr. Liu has performed at Carnegie Hall, Fisher Center, Symphony Space, Suzhou Culture and Arts Centre, Anhui Grand Theatre, and Chongqing Grand Theatre. Mr. Liu has performed as the guest soloist in Chinese-American soprano Ai Lan Zhu’s solo recital at the Suzhou Culture and Arts Centre and several solo recitals in the States and China. On the operatic stage, he has been seen as the Nurse in Monteverdi’s opera L’incoronazione di Poppea directed by Catherine Malfitano, and has joined New York University Mandarin Stage Group production of Man of La Mancha (Chinese Version). Mr. Liu’s opera scene work includes Nemorino in L’elisir d’amore, Tamino in Die Zauberflöte, and Don Ottavio in Don Giovanni. In 2022, he was one of the artists in Art Song Festival in Cleveland. In 2020, he participated in Chautauqua Opera Conservatory, studying with Marlena Malas. Mr. Liu has performed at Carnegie Hall, Fisher Center, Symphony Space, Suzhou Culture and Arts Centre, and Chongqing Grand Theatre. He has worked with world-class musicians and directors such as Stephanie Blythe, Catherine Malfitano, Warren Jones, Leon Botstein, Tazewell Thompson, Crag Terry, and Doug Fitch.
Besides being an operatic singer, Mr. Liu is also interested in Music Business and Organizing. He organized several recitals and events for Fortune 500 Companies such as Longfor Properties and Greentown China. He also is the guest artist of the Nankai Secondary School, Bashu Secondary School, and Renming Primary School, of which he is a graduate.
Mr. Liu holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Manhattan School of Music, where he studied with Marlena Malas, and holds a Master’s degree at the Vocal Arts Program of Bard College Conservatory of Music, where he studied with Richard Cox. And he is pursuing D.M.A at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign where he study with Professor Nathan Gunn.
Tenor - Zihao Liu 