Minyi Zhang, a Chinese-born pianist, earned both her Bachelor's and Master’s degrees at The Juilliard School and is currently pursuing her doctoral degree at Stony Brook University under the tutelage of Gilbert Kalish.

Born in Shenzhen, China, Minyi began studying piano at age six and started performing throughout China shortly thereafter, with a notable performance at the XXVI Summer Universiade in Shenzhen. At 12, she made her concerto debut with Shostakovich's Piano Concerto No. 2 after winning the Gold and Grand Prizes at the Third “Changjiang Cup” National Piano Tournament. She also won First Prize three times in the Shenzhen Piano Open Competition. At 15, Minyi moved to the U.S. to attend Interlochen Arts Academy, where she was awarded the Edward P. Frohlich and George and Joyce Kempton Academy Piano Scholar. Her later competition honors include First Prize at the American International Music Competition and the Gold Prize at the Carles and Sofia International Piano Competition. She is also the winner of the Lauren V. Ackerman Memorial Chamber Music Competition and the Stony Brook Concerto Competition. Most recently, she received 2nd prize and the prize for Best Performance of a Contemporary Work at the Franz Liszt International Liszt Competition, and as a result became a member of the American Liszt Society.

Her teachers have included Mei Xiao, Zhaoyi Dan, Mingqiang Li, Thomas J. Lymenstull, Jerome Lowenthal, Matti Raekallio, Joseph Kalichstein and Julian Martin. She has also worked with Arie Vardi, Richard Goode, Jean-Yves Thibaudet, and Emanuel Ax in masterclasses.

Recent highlights of Minyi’s performance career include appearing as a semi-finalist in the Liszt Utrecht International Competition at TivoliVredenburg; performing Brahms’ Piano Concerto No. 1 with the Stony Brook Symphony Orchestra, Schumann’s Piano Concerto in A minor with the Shenzhen Symphony Orchestra, and Ravel’s Piano Concerto in G major with the Fort Worth Symphony. She has also performed for the Humans of New York installation in Grand Central, as well as at other high-profile events and venues, including The New York Times, New York Fashion Week, and major concert halls across China, Japan, and the United States.

Since the age of 11, Minyi has used music to serve the community, performing for individuals in hospitals and care homes, and participating in various fundraising events. In addition to her performing career, she is an experienced educator who currently teaches at The Juilliard School and has recently joined Steinway as an Educational Partner.

Beyond her role as a pianist, Minyi is an actor and singer. She made her New York theater debut in 2024 at the Jeffrey and Paula Gural Theater. She will make her Off-Broadway debut in February 2026 at the Players Theatre.