Meet Caramoor 2025 Schwab Vocal Rising Star: Zoey Xinyue Zhou
By Tara Duffy
Zoey Xinyue Zhou is a Juilliard-trained pianist who believes the piano is the most inclusive instrument —because why settle for one genre when you can play them all? From concertos, sonatas, and chamber music to opera, ballet and Mandarin pop (with a personal touch of key modulations), Zoey enjoys playing all kinds of piano music. Raised by an unstoppable mother and supported by an intellectual, free-spirited partner, she navigates life with resilience and artistry. A lover of devastatingly beautiful films like Blade Runner 2049 and a master of homemade Asian cuisine, Zoey has even survived a frozen iPad catastrophe mid-recital during a Chinese art-song (thanks for nothing, tenor!). Remember the days of music books that had actual paper pages to turn? Dreaming of a global recitalist career but keeping it practical with a steady job, Zoey finds joy in every note — true to her name, Xinyue, which in Chinese character means “pitch” (歆) and “joy” (悦).
To read more serious facts about Zoey and her music career thus far, please read her professional bio here.