Julie Zheng, Violin
Julie Zheng is a 15-year-old violinist and sophomore at Lower Merion High School. She began studying the violin at the age of six and has since developed a strong commitment to orchestral and chamber music. Julie currently studies with Mei Chen Liao-Barnes and is a member of her school’s Chamber Orchestra.
Julie has performed at multiple levels within the Philadelphia Youth Orchestra Music Institute (PYOMI), including PRYSM, PRYSM Young Artists, YMDO, PYAO, and is currently a member of the Philadelphia Youth Orchestra (PYO), where she has played since 2023. She also participates in the Advanced Study Chamber Ensembles at Settlement Music School as a violinist in the Auger Contemporary Piano Quartet.
Julie has been selected for the PMEA District 11 Orchestra in 2025 and 2026 and served as Concertmaster in 2026. Additionally, she attended the Philadelphia International Music Festival in 2023 and 2024 and has participated in masterclasses with Elli Choi, Juliette Kang, Kimberly Fisher, Marc Rovetti, Christine Lim, Phil Kates, Marvin Moon, and Dara Morales. Outside of PIMF, Julie also had a masterclass with David Kim. Her competitive achievements include being a Junior Division Concerto Competition Finalist in 2023, earning the Ambler Symphony Menges Scholarship Award in 2025, placing second overall in the Tri-County Concerts Youth Festival Senior Strings Division in 2025 and Junior Strings Division in 2023, and receiving second overall (2025) and honorable mention awards( 2023, 2024) in the Bucks County Symphony Orchestra Youth Concerto Competition.Outside of music, Julie enjoys exploring new foods, spending time with friends and family, drawing, and capturing pictures of the sky. Some of her other commitments include volunteering to teach and tutor young children at her local STEMsters chapter and on LearnToBe. She is also a member of the Lower Merion High School’s Technology Student Association (TSA), where she will be attending the PA State Conference in April.