Alanna Parfait, voice & Shiyi Zhu, piano - Rising Stars

Alanna Parfait is a singer and educator in the Gainesville area. She holds a masters of music in vocal performance from the University of South Florida and her bachelor's degree is from the University of Florida.

​Pianist Shiyi Zhu has earned wide acclaim for her artistry. A recent performance of works by Franz Liszt was praised for displaying “dazzling technique and strong musicality” by pianist Wu Han. She showcased her strong passion and talent as the first-prize winner of UF Concerto Competition (2024), Xiamen International Piano Competition (2022), and Liszt International Youth Piano Competition (2019). Her performance venues include Carnegie Hall in New York, Brevard Music Festival in North Carolina, and Hongkong Culture Center in China. She was recently invited as guest artist at Benedictine College and became featured artist on the WUFT radio.

Born and raised in Gulangyu Island, acclaimed as the “Island of Music” in China, Ms. Zhu was taught by her grandmother from the age of four. She studied piano performance in Xiamen Music Conservatory and held a master’s degree in piano performance at East China Normal University. Ms. Zhu is currently pursuing a DMA in Piano Performance at the University of Florida School of Music, where she studies with Dr. Evan Mitchell.

Her research explores the intersection of psychology, performance optimization, and piano practice. Her project was selected through a peer-reviewed selection process to be presented at the prestigious 2026 MTNA National Conference. In addition to her duties as a Teaching Assistant at UF, she serves as Secretary for the Gainesville Music Teachers Association.

Join us any Tuesday in February at 12:15 p.m. for a 25-minute concert followed by a $7 lunch. February 3 Lunch Menu: Cream of Broccoli Soup, SweetBerries Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad, Montreat Chocolate Cream Pie, Water, and Lemonade.