Carlsbad, CA – The Army and Navy Academy is proud to announce that Cadet Kenneth Zhang, at the young age of 13, has performed on the iconic stage of New York’s Carnegie Hall, adding an extraordinary milestone to his journey as a nationally and internationally acclaimed violinist.
On April 1, Kenneth performed Sarasate’s “Zigeuenerweisen” as a soloist at the 4th Laureate Gala hosted by Progressive Musicians and Sound Espressivo.
Joined by his parents, Yudong and Mei Zhang, his violin teacher Mr. James Greening-Valenzuela, and the Academy’s Middle School Commandant, Staff Sergeant Paul Nixon (USMC Retired), Kenneth’s achievement speaks volumes of his remarkable passion and commitment to his art.
Kenneth’s litany of accomplishments includes a series of first-place finishes in prestigious music competitions: First Prize, Charleston International Music Competition; First Prize, North California Young Talents Competition; First Prize, San Francisco International Innovative Music Competition; First Prize, Pelican International Music Competition; and First Prize, DVC/HNU String Competition in California. His pursuit of musical excellence is all the more impressive considering he began playing the violin just five years ago.
His instructor, Mr. James Greening-Valenzuela shared, “The possibilities for Kenneth are limitless. He is extraordinarily talented and bright and his dedication to his music is impressive. While he attends boarding school during the week, he flies home every Saturday for lessons with me. Kenneth definitely has the talent to pursue this professionally if that’s what he wants for his career. “
The entire Army and Navy Academy faculty, staff, and board of directors congratulate Kenneth for his focused pursuit of excellence and this important addition to his music resume.