Student Spotlight: Evelyn Zhang
May 6th, 2025
"It was really heartwarming to know that I could make a difference in my community through music."
Evelyn Zhang, a classical guitarist and student of Brad Conroy, has been playing music since the age of six. She began her journey on piano and has been studying classical guitar for around 4 years.
“I play the guitar because I’ve always loved its sound quality and the variety of tone it offers,” Evelyn says. “With subtle adjustments in hand position, nail quality, or finger pressure, you can create so many different nuances in sound. I especially love the expressiveness of romantic pieces that motivate me to keep exploring and improving my playing.”
Throughout her musical journey, Evelyn’s teacher, Brad Conroy, has played a key role in building her confidence and supporting her growth. “Brad has been super encouraging and has always known I could do my best. Knowing that he believed in me, I think I was able to be more confident in my playing and continue to work towards my goals.”
One of Evelyn’s favorite memories is from a service event where she performed at a senior living home. “A favorite memory I’ve had from a performance was when I participated in a service event playing at a senior living home, and afterwards a group of elderly ladies came up to us and thanked us for taking the time to play music for them. It was really heartwarming to know that I could make a difference in my community through music.”
Evelyn reflects on what music has brought to her life. “Being able to have music be a part of my life in so many different ways, whether it’s through playing an instrument or being able to appreciate and be exposed to various genres of music, I think has brought my enjoyment and appreciation for music to a higher level.”
One piece of advice from her teacher continues to influence how she approaches performance and beyond: “Brad told me that a musical performance is not about a test or measure of my skill, but instead a dialogue between the performer and the audience where the goal is to communicate meaning to listeners. Now, I think of that advice any time I am at a recital or performance, or even non-music related moments that can be nerve-wracking.”
When asked to sum up her musical journey in one sentence, Evelyn describes it as: “An exploration of what music has to offer that has brought many fruitful rewards!”
Evelyn is currently preparing to perform on WFMT’s Introductions, a weekly radio program that features talented young musicians from the Chicagoland area. Outside of music, Evelyn enjoys baking, reading, and doing service.
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