Sophia Moxuan Zhang, born in 2009, began her musical journey with piano at the age of 4 and violin at 8. She studied piano under Wolfram Linnebach and violin with Frank Ho in Edmonton. Between 2020 and 2022, she received Chopin piano lessons with Dr. Krzysztof Jabloński and has been directed by Ian Parker since 2024.
Her dedication were evident as achieved the Associate Diploma in Piano Performance at 13, earning a regional first place award. She also won a regoional gold medal in the RCM Level 10 Violin for the Midwest Canada region, which includes Alberta, Nunavut and Northwest Territories. Sophia joined the Edmonton Youth Orchestra at the age of 11. Her music talents have earned her numerous scholarships, including the Nadine Thiruchelvam Scholarship, Pamela Farmer Scholarship, Alberta Ukrainian Commemorative Society Piano Scholarship and Symphony Women’s Educational Assistance Award. Her competitive edge was further demonstrated by securing third place in the Canadian Music Competition National Finals, first place in the 2024 North America Pacific Rim International Music Festival Piano Competition Finals, and first prize in the International Music Competition of Best Rachmaninoff Performance. Beyond music achievements, Sophia has a strong passion for math and science, having made the hour roll in the AMC math competion. She has recently become a Junior Academy member at the New York Academy of Sciences, where her research focuses on the long-term impacts of planetary interreactions, such as Mars, on climate changes. Sophia’s enthusiasm for sports is also notable, particularly in board sports like skateboarding, snowboarding, and wakeboarding. She is a proud member of the 2024 Alberta Water Ski Team, ranking among top three provincially in the Under 17 category and placing in the top five at the Western Canadian Water Ski Championships. She aspires to compete in the World tour next year.