My concentration and spiritual understanding find more space here

Zeyu Zhao. Photo: zVg

He grew up in Dalian/China and has been studying in Europe since 2015, first at the University of Augsburg and then at the Kalaidos University of Music. Zeyu Zhao loves to sing, counts Bohemian Rhapsody and likes the second movement of Beethoven's ninth symphony because of its bright, uplifting and propulsive theme.

Mr. Zhao, as the winner of this year's Jstvan Kertész competition, we congratulate you warmly! How do you feel about competitions? 
I like competitions because they give me the opportunity to work on myself and gain more experience on stage. Accordingly, it's a big challenge to prepare for them every time: it takes a lot of time and hard training.

What challenges you the most? 
During the performance at the competition, you repeatedly encounter special situations that usually don't occur during normal practicing and playing. You have to deal with this, which of course also trains your stress tolerance. My aim remains to maintain a concentrated mental state and to do everything I can to show my understanding and love of music. I find that challenging in a situation like this.

You don't seem to have only recently become involved with it. Were you encouraged in piano at an early age? 
Yes, I practiced a lot as a child, which was sometimes difficult as no one in the family played an instrument. However, my mother was always very supportive. She played the violin for a short time as a child and loved music so much that she wanted me to learn to play the piano. I am very grateful to her today for supporting me and encouraging me to never give up.

Parents can play a decisive role in access to an instrument. How do you experience music education in Germany compared to your own experiences? 
I can't say how closely parents are involved. It seems to me that the approach is freer and more fun. I also think that the musicians in Germany have a deeper understanding of classical music. In China, more emphasis is placed on finger training and technique. In Germany, technique is always linked to stylistic awareness. Personally, I feel more calm here in order to engage with the music and feel it. My concentration and my spiritual understanding find more space here.

You have been living in Europe since 2014. How did you experience the change from China? 
After arriving in Europe and a year of language and piano preparation, I passed my exams and started my studies in 2015. At the beginning I was alone, without family or friends. Due to the lack of language skills, I felt very alone at first, sometimes uncomfortable and even anxious. After a while, however, I gradually got used to life here. Now I can organize my everyday life with my studies and free time according to my wishes, go to the gym regularly and try to get to know the different cultures of European countries by travelling during my vacations.

They carry a variety of cultural impressions and experiences with them. What role does singing play in this? 
Yes, singing pop songs is a hobby of mine, both in Chinese and in English. My favorite singer in China is Jay Chou. He composes his own songs and performs R&B and rap, drawing inspiration from different styles such as classical music and traditional Chinese folk music. He also uses a lot of traditional Chinese folk instruments, I feel he conveys a lot of positive energy and encourages people to face life with an open mind. My favorite band in Europe is Queen. I love their musical talent and their passion for songwriting. For me, their songs are more than just pop songs, but rather works of art.