Annie Zhou is a Los Angeles–based musician and Recording Academy Voting Member, recognized for her mastery of the traditional Chinese instrument, the 21-string Guzheng. She studied under Guzheng master and composer Wang Changyuan, as well as American composers and improvisational artists Paul Novros and Vinny Golia. Annie studied Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in the Performer/Composer program at the California Institute of the Arts, and was awarded the Lilian Disney Scholarship.
Dedicated to bridging cultures, Annie is committed to promoting and integrating Chinese traditional music within the American cultural landscape. Her performances have been featured by domestic and international media, praised by audiences nationwide, and acknowledged by numerous government officials. She has been invited to perform at distinguished events including the 62nd Annual Los Angeles County Holiday Celebration (Emmy® Award-winning program) and the 61st Annual Los Angeles County Holiday Celebration. Annie has also demonstrated her exceptional talent at significant events including the National Gallery of Art New Spring Event, the 30th Qingdao International Beer Festival, the 17th to 20th U.S. Chinese New Year Festival Galas in Los Angeles, the Pacific Symphony Lunar New Year's Concert, NAMM Show, USC Asia Museum Concert, Crocker Museum Concert, City of Sierra Madre Summer Concert, City of Arcadia Moon Festival, California State University, San Bernardino AAPI Event, Lewis Family Playhouse Concert, and so on.
Her corporate clients include Sony Pictures Entertainment, Moët Hennessy USA, Mercedes-Benz dealer Rusnak, JW Marriott, Yaamava Casino, Harrah’s, Pala Casino, and Moutai & CNS, among others.
In addition to her performance career, Annie is highly recognized as a composer and recording artist. Her original works have been licensed by television networks, radio stations, film producers, and corporations. Her work was also featured in the PBS documentary Journey to America. Notable clients include U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm, the popular YouTube channel Mr & Mrs Gao (6.6M+ followers), and leading Bilibili creator Mediastorm. Nearly 30 of her compositions have been registered with the U.S. Copyright Office, and her music—available on all major platforms—reached more than 1.6 million annual streams on Spotify in 2025, underscoring her international reach and influence.
Annie’s compositions have earned recognition in multiple international music competitions. Her piece Meng (萌) won the Best Modern Mode Award at the Shengshi Huazheng International Guzheng Music Festival (2018). Unsettled advanced to the semifinals of the International Songwriting Competition (ISC) in 2020. In 2021, Country Rhapsody and Amare Girls received Outstanding Work Awards at the Dunhuang Award – Chinese Chamber Music New Works Exhibition.
