Sophia Hui Zhou, MM, DMA, is director of research and partnerships management at Brandnew Consulting Group—Phoenix. Dr. Zhou also serves as executive director and lead faculty clinician at Beso Music Academy—Phoenix. At Brandnew Group, Dr. Zhou has been instrumental in the consulting center’s transformation and implementation of quality initiatives and clinical programs.
As a concert pianist, educator, and researcher, Dr. Zhou is recognized for her performances across international stages and her scholarly work in music theory and pedagogy. She is currently a doctoral candidate in piano performance at Arizona State University under Dr. Baruch Meir. Dr. Zhou earned both her master’s degree and advanced certificate in piano studies from New York University, where she studied with Dr. Marilyn Nonken.
As a performer, Dr. Zhou has appeared worldwide, highlighted by her 2018 premiere at Carnegie Hall. Her playing is noted for its expressive depth and cross-cultural sensitivity, informed by her research on the relationship between music theory, sound complexity, and musical cognition.
Dr. Zhou is currently a member of the adjunct faculty at Arizona State University, and has served on the adjunct faculty at New York University. Additionally, she has held tenured full-time faculty positions in piano studies at the Wuhan Conservatory of Music and the South Central University for Nationalities in Wuhan, China from 2011 to 2019. She currently serves as Staff Pianist at Arizona Christian University and as Membership Chair of the Arizona State Music Teachers Association (ASMTA).
As lead faculty clinician at Brandnew Consulting Group and Beso Music Academy, Dr. Zhou’s work integrates performance, research, and pedagogy through interdisciplinary and cross-cultural perspectives, reflecting her commitment to advancing music as both an art form and a shared human experience.