Chinese pianist Jialiang Zhu is a co-founder of the Bedford Trio, who has been the Artists in Residence at the University of Toronto (U of T)’s Faculty of Music since 2021. The Trio adjudicates the annual U of T Piano Trio Composition Competition and frequently performs in the New Music Festival. The Trio works closely with student composers from Earl Haig Secondary School to help them develop piano trio works. Since 2022, the Trio has been producing multidisciplinary IMMERSED concerts, in which they give the world premiere sof student composers’ works, in collaboration with original animation, choreography, and lighting by local artists. 

Jialiang specializes in Chinese art song and has performed this repertoire with vocalists from different cultural backgrounds at Canadian Opera Company, Canadian Museum of Human Rights, University of Ottawa, University of Manitoba, and U of T. Her article “Singing Classical Chinese Poetry” was published by Art Song Canada. Currently pursuing a Doctoral of Musical Arts (DMA) Degree at U of T under the tutelage of Lydia Wong, she is creating a performance guide on Chinese art song for non-Mandarin speakers.

A winner of the U of T DMA recital competition, Jialiang continues to broaden her solo piano repertoire by working with living composers. Her 2024 recital “Dialogues” features piano works by five living Canadian and international composers, which are inspired by the dialogues between music and subjectssuch as mental health, poetry, spirituality, and self-discovery. 

Jialiang has recently taken on the role of concert producer. In 2023-24, she produces and performs in two concert series in Ontario, “The Power of Words” and “Empowered by Friendship,” to explore her connections with fellow Canadian and international artists and showcasing their works of music and poetry.