Lunchtime Recital - Sharon Zhou (violin) and Thomas Masciaga (piano)

Programme:

J. Brahms: Violin Sonata No. 2 in A major Op. 100

S. Prokofiev: Five Melodies for Violin and Piano Op. 35

E. Grieg: Violin Sonata No. 2 in G major Op. 13

In association with Royal `College of Music

Biography:

Sharon Zhou

Recognised for her individual versatility and curiosity as a musician, Sharon is a rising British violinist and composer, equally at home in both classical and contemporary repertoire. She regularly collaborates with composers to realise new compositions, multimedia projects and is currently working on a new violin concerto, dedicated to her by Patrick Case. Since the start of her musical journey, she has performed as a soloist and chamber musician across the UK, Europe and China.

When she was 14, Sharon made her concerto debut performing Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto with The Mozart Orchestra and is regularly invited by orchestras to perform as a guest soloist.

She has been a participant and laureate of several national and international competitions; highlights include receiving the St Cecilia’s Bequest, for the best performer under 18, as well as the Colonel Howes Prize at the 34th Eastbourne Young Soloist Competition and the Silver Award at the Internationales Musikfest in Vienna, where she made her debut at the Musikverein. Sharon was grateful to be a recipient of the 2023 RPS Julius Isserlis Scholarship which supported her exchange programme at the Universität für Musik und darstellende Kunst Wien.

Sharon has just completed her studies at the Royal College of Music, where she worked with Daniel Rowland, Peter Manning and Detlef Hahn, and where she was awarded the highly commended prize at the RCM Violin and Contemporary Competitions.

Thomas Masciaga

Born in Italy to an Anglo-Italian family, Thomas Masciaga started playing the piano at the age of seven. When he was 12, he made his recital debut in Siena, at Teatro dei Rozzi, and subsequently won several national and international competitions. At the age of 15, Thomas began commuting between Italy and London to attend the Junior Department of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, where he was awarded the coveted Piano Prize. Thomas continued his undergraduate studies at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama with Paul Roberts and Joan Havill. Since graduating with a first-class Bachelor’s degree he was then awarded the prestigious Concert Recital Diploma. He subsequently studied on the postgraduate course with Lucy Parham and Charles Owen and is now pursuing his studies on the Artist Diploma course.

During his studies in London, Thomas has regularly performed solo recitals and concertos in both England and Italy, including venues such as St. James’s Piccadilly, Bechstein Hall and Milton Court, Barbican. Most recently, Thomas was a prize winner at the 2025 Intercollegiate Sheepdrove Piano Competition, where he also won a Robert Turnbull Award. Thomas has received ongoing support and mentoring from Konstantin Bogino at Accademia Perosi in Biella and since 2024 has been a Talent Unlimited Artist.