Discovering Shuwen Zhang’s piano works

This paper serves as a guide to the recording project that culminates in a high-quality album featuring selected piano compositions by Shuwen Zhang (b. 1991). Highlighting eight distinct pieces, it includes “Variations on CCTV News Theme,” “Grand Fantasia: The Earth and the New Planet,” “Ice Cream Truck,” “Scherzo No. 6: ‘The Surgical Mask’”, “Turn Me On,” “Falling Daisy by the Curtain,” “Ocean Fog,” and “Orange Cocoa Latte.” This project aims to elevate Shuwen Zhang’s solo piano works within international concert repertoires and foster appreciation for his artistry through in-depth analysis.Shuwen Zhang, a young Chinese composer, holds a master’s degree in piano performance from the Manhattan School of Music. He gained recognition by winning first place in the 2015 Steinway Piano Composition Contest, excelling in both the “Best Advanced Original” and “Best Advanced Arrangement” categories. Since 2016, he has shared his musical expertise as a part-time professor at the Zhejiang Conservatory of Music in China.