Anna Zhang

Jin Zhang, also known as Anna, is a bassoonist and a senior at Central High School in Philadelphia. She started as a percussionist in her middle school band and switched to bassoon in her eighth-grade year after hearing it for the first time in a concert. During her first year of high school, she attended Temple University Community Music Scholars Program and Artistry in Pedagogy program at Curtis. That summer, she went to the New York University Woodwind Intense Program and studied with Lenord Hindell and Gina Cuffari and she also participated in the All-City Summer Academy led by Joseph Conyers and Penn Band under Greer Cheeseman. The following summer, Anna went to the Kinhaven Music School senior session in Vermont, where she was part of the chamber chorus, chamber groups, and orchestra. There, she studied bassoon with Danel Shelly, from the Met Opera; and also studied composing with Nicolas Scherzinger. 

The next summer, Anna went to Brevard Music Festival located in Brevard, North Carolina, where she studied with renowned bassoonists like Glenn Einschlag, Catherine Chen, Andrew Brady, and Sue Barber. 

Currently, in her senior year, Anna is a member of the Philadelphia Youth Orchestra conducted by Louis Scaglione; the principal bassoon of the All-City Orchestra for the past 3 seasons, and an active member of Settlement Music School Advanced Quintet, a fellow of the Philadelphia Orchestra and All-City Fellowship; and a student at Temple Prep studying chamber music and advanced music theory. Formerly, she was the principal bassoon of the Philadelphia Young Artist Orchestra since 2020, under the direction of Rosalind Erwin. Anna has also participated in many other programs including the Curtis Mentor Network program and Fox Crossing Music and Mindfulness Camp. 

Anna loves constantly growing as a musician and artist. She has played for William Short, Kristin Wolfe Jensen, George Sakakeeny, Benjamin Kamins, Barrick Stees, Andrew Brady, Angela Smith, Leonard Hindell, Gina Cuffari, Daniel Shelly, Alexandra Eastley, Colleen Hood, Elizabeth Masundinia, Matt Sullivan, Mary Watt, Titus Underwood, Carolyn Wahl, Troy Rinker, Glenn Einschlag, Catherine Chen, Andrew Brady, Staff Sgt. Stephen Rudman, David Smith, and Philippe Tondre. 

She is studying bassoon under the guidance of Daniel Matsukawa and Rick Barrantes. On weekends, Anna enjoys going to the Philadelphia Orchestra concerts, spending time with other musicians, playing chess, learning languages, and watching TwoSet. Anna is a Philadelphia Music Alliance for Youth (PMAY) Artist.