Jidong Zhong, MM

Jidong Zhong was born in 1993 in Beijing, China, and started studying piano at age five. At age eleven, he was admitted to the elementary school attached to the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing, where he began professional music training. 

​

At age sixteen, Jidong moved to the United States to further pursue his passion for music. In 2016, he received the Bachelor of Music degree in Piano Performance from Washington Adventist University, studying under Dr. Daniel Lau. In addition to graduating Magna cum laude, Jidong participated in the honors program, played and sang with the orchestra and chorale, respectively, and served as piano accompanist at the Foundry United Methodist Church in Washington, DC. During his undergraduate years, Jidong gave half dozen solo recitals and received high rankings in a number of piano competitions.  

​

Upon graduation, Jidong was admitted to the Eastman School of Music to pursue graduate studies with Dr. Douglas Humpherys, where he received the Master of Music degree in 2018. That same year, he won first prize in the Young Artist piano category of the National Music Teachers National Association competition. Jidong is now a candidate for the Doctor of Musical Arts degree with ABD status and expects to graduate in May, 2022. In 2019, he was named a candidate for the Graduate Teaching Assistant prize for excellence in teaching secondary piano lessons. From 2020-2021, Jidong taught the Twentieth Century Piano Literature course and served as the music director at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Clifton Springs, New York.  In summer 2021, Jidong accepted the offer from his alma mater, Washington Adventist University to serve as staff accompanist, adjunct faculty, and Community Music School instructor.