“Eddie’s playing was informed, elegant, refined, exciting, and rapturously received by a large, enthusiastic audience.”
About
Eddie Zheng is a “rising star” (American Guild of Organists) in the world of concert organ music. Driven by a passion to bring the beauty and grandeur of organ music to wider audiences, Eddie has traveled the world, enthralling audiences with his artistry and musical sensitivity in performances across the United States, Canada, France, and China.
Eddie’s performances are characterized by exceptional musicality and technical mastery and have been “rapturously received” by diverse audiences. His 2023 performance of the Elgar Organ Sonata at the Spoleto L’Organo Festival was noted as “ranking as one of the best I’ve ever heard [...] he had all the panache the piece calls for; the last movement for once was fast enough, the first movement imperial in its splendor, and the two slow movements tender and lyrical” (Murray Somerville, L’Organo Chair).
With a focus on French Romantic works and a diverse repertoire spanning the early Baroque period, transcriptions, and modern compositions, Eddie’s performances balance magnificence with tender lyricism, complemented by insightful spoken notes that enhance his audiences’ experience of hearing challenging staples of the organ repertoire. This approach has earned him accolades including first place at the 2018 Albert Schweitzer Organ Competition and the 2019 AGO Quimby Northeast Regional Competition, and the highest awarded prize at the 2024 Pierre de Manchicourt International Organ Competition in St. Omer, France. In 2023, Eddie was the recipient of the Juilliard School’s Joseph W. Polisi Award for outstanding artistry and leadership in community engagement.
In addition to his concertizing, Eddie is dedicated to broadening the appreciation of organ music and engaging with audiences of all ages through service playing and teaching. He is the Assistant Organist at Saint Ignatius of Antioch Episcopal Church in New York, working with leading early music performer Dr. Gwendolyn Toth in the church’s renowned Anglo-Catholic liturgical tradition. Eddie is also the Associate Organist at Eglise St. Jean Baptiste and a Guest Organist at The Riverside Church in New York. Eddie maintains a thriving teaching studio where he can share his knowledge and passion with more than 10 organ students of all ages, helping to ensure the future of organ playing.
Born and raised in New York City, Eddie's musical journey began with piano studies from age 5, before attending the Juilliard School's Pre-College division for organ, studying with Dr. Matthew Lewis. He earned his combined Bachelor's and Master’s degree at Juilliard with Paul Jacobs, and currently continues his study with Jacobs in the Juilliard Artist Diploma program. Eddie has also studied privately or in masterclass with several of the world's most respected organists, including Peter Richard Conte, Olivier Latry, Nathan Laube, Thomas Murray, and Johann Vexo.
Eddie is constantly exploring new ways to bring the beauty of the organ to new audiences and contexts. Since 2016, Eddie has performed regularly in Beijing, China to young audiences, many of whom heard the organ for the first time in concerts at National Centre for the Performing Arts in Beijing, Wangfujing Church, Beijing Concert Hall, and Beijing Golden Sail Concert Hall. A part-time resident of the Catskills in New York, Eddie founded the 'Organ Music in the Catskills' series in 2021, which has now featured seven recitals of organ, piano, and vocal music to enthusiastic audiences in the region. In September 2022, Eddie premiered a work composed by Juilliard composer Joy Redmond, titled ‘Ricercar’, commissioned by the American Guild of Organists for the composer-performer duo. Under the baton of Jeffrey Milarsky and James Baker, Eddie performed with the Juilliard AXIOM orchestra at Lincoln Center’s Alice Tully Hall in December 2022, fueling his passion for collaborating with other artists and ensembles.
Highlights of 2024-25 include performances in New York at The Riverside Church, Trinity Church Wall Street, St. Bartholomew’s Church, and recitals in Chicago (IL), Princeton (NJ), and South Africa.
In his free time, Eddie enjoys fixing motorcycles, reading books, and brewing espresso.
For more information, please visiteddiezheng.com.
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Driven by a passion to bring the beauty and grandeur of organ music to wider audiences, Eddie Zheng is a rising concert organist whose performances have been “rapturously received” by diverse audiences around cities across the United States, Canada, France, and China. He has won several competitions, receiving the highest awarded prizes at the 2018 Albert Schweitzer Organ Competition, 2019 American Guild of Organists Northeast Organ Competition, and 2024 Pierre de Manchicourt International Organ Competition in St. Omer, France.
Eddie’s 2023 performance of the Elgar Organ Sonata at the Spoleto L’Organo Festival was noted as “ranking as one of the best I’ve ever heard [...] he had all the panache the piece calls for; the last movement for once was fast enough, the first movement imperial in its splendor, and the two slow movements tender and lyrical” (Murray Somerville, L’Organo Chair).
In addition to concertizing, Eddie is dedicated to broadening the appreciation of organ music and engaging with audiences of all ages through service playing and teaching. He currently serves as Assistant Organist at Saint Ignatius of Antioch Episcopal Church in New York, as well as Associate Organist at Eglise St. Jean Baptiste and Guest Organist of The Riverside Church. He also maintains a thriving teaching studio with more than ten organ students.
Eddie's journey with the organ began at the Juilliard Pre-College division, where he studied with Matthew Lewis before earning his combined BM/MM degree from Juilliard with Paul Jacobs. He currently continues his study with Jacobs in the Artist Diploma program at Juilliard. Eddie has been fortunate to study privately or in masterclass with several of the world's most respected organists, including Peter Richard Conte, Olivier Latry, Nathan Laube, Thomas Murray, and Johann Vexo.
Highlights of 2024-25 include performances in New York at The Riverside Church, Trinity Church Wall Street, St. Bartholomew’s Church, and recitals in Chicago (IL), Princeton (NJ), and South Africa.
In his free time, Eddie enjoys fixing motorcycles, reading books, and brewing espresso.
For more information, please visit eddiezheng.com.
Performance Highlights
Sample Programming
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Alexandre Guilmant - Organ Sonata No. 1 in D minor, Op. 42
César Franck - Prelude, Fugue, and Variation
Maurice Duruflé - Prélude et Fugue sur le nom d'Alain, Op. 7
Ralph Vaughan Williams - ‘Rhosymedre’ from 3 Preludes Founded on Welsh Hymn Tunes
Edward Elgar - Sonata in G major, Op. 28
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Johann Sebastian Bach - Chromatic Fantasy and Fugue in D minor, BWV 903 (arr. Max Reger)
Edward Elgar - IX. Nimrod from Enigma Variations, Op. 36 (arr. Daniel Ficarri)
Johann Sebastian Bach - Organ Concerto in A Minor, BWV 593 after RV 522 by Antonio Vivaldi
Edward Elgar - III. Andanto espressivo from Sonata in G major, Op. 28
Richard Wagner - “Walhalla Scene”/Finale to Das Rheingold (arr. Edwin Lemare)
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Dietrich Buxtehude - Toccata in F Major, BuxWV 157
Johann Sebastian Bach - Prelude and Fugue in D Major, BWV 532
Max Reger - Benedictus, Op. 59 No. 9
Charles-Marie Widor - I. Allegro vivace from Symphony for Organ No. 5 in F Minor, Op. 42 No. 1
Jeanne Demessieux - V. Notes répétées from 6 Études, Op. 5
J.P. Redmond - Ricercar (2022)
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Double Violin Concerto in A minor, BWV 593 (A. Vivaldi)
Prelude and Fugue in C minor, BWV 549
Chorale Prelude on O Mensch, bewein dein Sünde groß, BWV 622
Trio Sonata No. 1 in Eb Major, BWV 525
Toccata and Fugue in D minor, BWV 565