Matthea Zhao (1980)

| United Kingdom

Professor | Dr. Geoffrey Govier

Matthea Zhao started playing the piano at the age of 5. She has been studying piano with Dr Geoffrey Govier in the Junior Department of Royal College of Music, UK since the age of 8. Matthea achieved ABRSM grade 8 distinction when she was 8 years old and obtained her DipAbrsm at 10. She was twice the prize winner in the Henle International Piano competition in 2020 and 2021. In 2023, she won the 1st prize in the U12 age group of the International Chopin Competition in Narva, Estonia, as well as the Special Prizes for Promising Young Performer and The Best Performer of a Work from Own Country. As part of the prize, she was also invited by the Chopin Institute to give two recitals in Zelazowa Wola in the summer of 2023. Matthea is currently a full time student at St Paul’s Girls School with a music scholarship. In her spare time, she is a dedicated speed cuber (with a top ranking speed amongst females in the UK). She also enjoys composition, reading, chess and playing football.