MusicCincinnatiSeason 26–27

Music

Viola. Solo. Chamber. Orchestra.

Kuang Zhou · Based in Cincinnati

The music · Kuang Zhou

Kuang Zhou is a Cincinnati-based violist pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM), studying with Brian Hong. His work spans solo, chamber and orchestral performance.

His work spans solo, chamber and orchestral performance. He appeared with The Orchestra Now (TŌN) under Leon Botstein in movements I–II of Telemann’s Viola Concerto in G major in 2025, and with the ECNU Symphony Orchestra in the first movement of Walton’s Viola Concerto in 2024. In October 2025, he served as principal viola of the Bard College Conservatory Orchestra in performances of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony and the North American premiere of Tan Dun’s Choral Concerto: Nine at the Fisher Center and Alice Tully Hall, Lincoln Center.

His festival experience includes the Green Lake Festival of Music Chamber Music Institute and the Hangzhou Liangzhu International (Youth) String Festival. His string quartet received “Highest Honor” at the Schubert International Music Competition in Moscow in 2023. At his May 2025 recital in Bard’s Olin Hall, he premiered his original Sonata Introduction for Viola and Piano, dedicated to Melissa Reardon.

At CCM, Kuang studies with Brian Hong. His earlier studies include Bard College Conservatory with Melissa Reardon and East China Normal University with Dapeng Sun.

Read the biography →

On stagePerformance & company

Chamber & orchestra

Music, together.

Listening. Sharing. Performing.

Kuang’s chamber music experience includes the Green Lake Festival of Music Chamber Music Institute and the Hangzhou Liangzhu International (Youth) String Festival. His string quartet received “Highest Honor” at the Schubert International Music Competition in 2023.

In October 2025, Kuang served as principal viola of the Bard College Conservatory Orchestra in Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony and Tan Dun’s Choral Concerto: Nine at the Fisher Center and Alice Tully Hall.

On stage

Solo. Chamber. Orchestra.

An original voice

Sonata Introduction for Viola and Piano

At his May 2025 recital in Bard’s Olin Hall, Kuang premiered his original Sonata Introduction for Viola and Piano, dedicated to Melissa Reardon.

Repertoire

Selected repertoire for solo viola, viola and piano, chamber ensembles, and orchestra.

Concertos
- Viola Concerto in G Major, TWV 51:G9Georg Philipp Telemann
- Viola ConcertoWilliam Walton
- Der SchwanendreherPaul Hindemith
- Viola Concerto in D Major, Op. 1Carl Stamitz
- Viola Concerto in D MajorFranz Anton Hoffmeister
- Viola Concerto, Sz. 120 / BB 128 (op. posth.)Béla Bartók
- Sinfonia Concertante in E-flat Major, K. 364Wolfgang Amadeus Mozartviolin and viola
- Cello Concerto No. 1 in A Minor, Op. 33Camille Saint-Saënsarr. for viola
Viola and Piano
- Sonata in F Minor, Op. 120 No. 1Johannes Brahms
- Sonata in E-flat Major, Op. 120 No. 2Johannes Brahms
- Romance in F Major, Op. 85Max Bruch
- Sonata No. 1 in C Minor, Op. 18York Bowen
- Sonata in A Minor, D 821 “Arpeggione”Franz Schubert
- Sonata, Op. 6Carl Stamitz
- Sonata Introduction for Viola and PianoKuang ZhouOriginal composition
Unaccompanied Viola
- Six Suites for Solo Cello, BWV 1007–1012Johann Sebastian Bachtranscribed for viola
- Sonata for Solo Viola, Op. 25 No. 1Paul Hindemith
- Caprices, Op. 22Bartolomeo CampagnoliNos. 1–18
Chamber Music
- String Quartet in C Major, Op. 33 No. 3Joseph HaydnString Quartets & String Ensembles (Viola)
- String Quartet No. 12 in F Major, Op. 96 “American”Antonín DvořákString Quartets & String Ensembles (Viola)
- String Quartet No. 8 in E Minor, Op. 59 No. 2 “Razumovsky”Ludwig van BeethovenString Quartets & String Ensembles (Viola)
- String Quartet No. 2 in A Minor, Op. 35Anton ArenskyString Quartets & String Ensembles (Viola) · violin, viola, 2 cellos
- Brandenburg Concerto No. 6 in B-flat Major, BWV 1051Johann Sebastian BachMixed Ensembles & Concerto Grosso
- Concerto in C Minor for Oboe and Violin, BWV 1060Johann Sebastian BachMixed Ensembles & Concerto Grosso
- Two Rhapsodies for oboe, viola, and pianoCharles Martin LoefflerMixed Ensembles & Concerto Grosso
- Concertone in C Major, K. 190Wolfgang Amadeus MozartMixed Ensembles & Concerto Grosso
Orchestral & Large Ensemble Repertoire
- Symphony No. 9 in D Minor, Op. 125Ludwig van BeethovenBard College Conservatory Orchestra (BCO)
- Symphony in D MinorCésar FranckBard College Conservatory Orchestra (BCO)
- Symphony No. 8 in B Minor, D 759 “Unfinished”Franz SchubertBard College Conservatory Orchestra (BCO)
- Symphony No. 10 in E Minor, Op. 93Dmitri ShostakovichBard College Conservatory Orchestra (BCO)
- Don Juan, Op. 20Richard StraussBard College Conservatory Orchestra (BCO)
- Choral Concerto: NineTan DunBard College Conservatory Orchestra (BCO)
- Dance Suite, Sz. 77Béla BartókThe Orchestra Now (TŌN)
- Symphony No. 7 in A Major, Op. 92Ludwig van BeethovenThe Orchestra Now (TŌN)
- Daphnis et Chloé, Suite No. 2Maurice RavelThe Orchestra Now (TŌN)
- Shylock Suite, Op. 57Gabriel FauréThe Orchestra Now (TŌN)
- Masques et Bergamasques, Op. 112Gabriel FauréThe Orchestra Now (TŌN)
- Pavane, Op. 50Gabriel FauréThe Orchestra Now (TŌN)
- Symphony No. 40 in G Minor, K. 550Wolfgang Amadeus MozartBard Baroque Ensemble
- Concerto in C Minor for Oboe and Violin, BWV 1060Johann Sebastian BachBard Baroque Ensemble
- “Ombra mai fu” (from Serse)George Frideric HandelBard Baroque Ensemble
- Piano Concerto No. 5 in E-flat Major, Op. 73 “Emperor”Ludwig van BeethovenECNU Symphony Orchestra
- Symphony No. 6 in F Major, Op. 68 “Pastoral”Ludwig van BeethovenECNU Symphony Orchestra
- Carmen SuiteGeorges BizetECNU Symphony Orchestra
- Dance of the Yao PeopleLiu Tieshan / Mao YuanECNU Symphony Orchestra
- Memorial (Piano Concerto)Lu PeiECNU Symphony Orchestra
- May Night OvertureNikolai Rimsky-KorsakovECNU Symphony Orchestra
- Symphony No. 5 in E Minor, Op. 64Pyotr Ilyich TchaikovskyECNU Symphony Orchestra
- Viola ConcertoWilliam WaltonECNU Symphony Orchestra · Soloist
- “Memory” (from Cats)Andrew Lloyd WebberAdditional Orchestral Experience · Guest Principal Second Violin
Orchestral Excerpts (Auditions)
- Symphony No. 5 in C Minor, Op. 67Ludwig van Beethoven
- Symphony No. 2 in D Major, Op. 73Johannes Brahms
- Symphony No. 5 in D Minor, Op. 47Dmitri Shostakovich
- Don Juan, Op. 20Richard Strauss

Next · Season 26–27

Looking Forward to It

New performances and projects will be announced here.

Season 26–27 →View photographs →

InquiriesGet in touch

Concerts, collaborations and lessons.

Music

The music · Kuang Zhou

On stagePerformance & company

Chamber & orchestra

An original voice

Repertoire

Concertos

Viola and Piano

Unaccompanied Viola

Chamber Music

Orchestral & Large Ensemble Repertoire

Orchestral Excerpts (Auditions)

Next · Season 26–27

InquiriesGet in touch

Thoughts from the stage.

Thoughts from the stage.