Zihua Ma, BM

Zihua Ma is currently pursuing graduate studies in violin under David Bowlin at the Eastman School of Music. She is the founder and a member of “The Tsavorite Trio” (piano trio based at Rochester, NY) and a board member of OSSIA New Music (Contemporary Ensemble at Eastman School of Music). Born in 2000 in Guangzhou, China. Zihua began playing the violin at the age of four. At nine, she enrolled in the top music school in China, Primary School Affiliated with the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing, where she continued her studies through high school.

In 2020, she was admitted to the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, where she earned an honorary Bachelor’s degree under the guidance of David Bowlin, graduating in 2024. Active as both a soloist and chamber musician. Zihua has a particular passion for contemporary music and has premiered works by composers Matthew Lam, Kelvin Tang, and Bo Huang. She also collaborated with many renowned artists, including Philip Setzer, Francesca de Pasquale, Peter Slowik, Sibbi Bernhardsson, and Kristen Docter. Zihua performed with the ensemble on numerous occasions, including at Carnegie Hall and the Musikverein etc. Beyond performance, she is dedicated to music education and cultural exchange. In recent years, she has organized the “Chinese Music Recital Series” across various venues and has maintained a deep partnership with Fiddlehead Field, focusing on music outreach and cultural transmission.