Nicholas Zehao Bai, D.M.A., M.M.
Visiting Associate Professor (Piano Performance and Music Technology)
CPA 2002
419.530.2183
Biography
Zehao “Nicholas” Bai, Chinese pianist and educator, has established himself as one of the prominent rising artists on today’s classical music scene. A prizewinner of the Heida Hermanns International Piano Competition and the Seattle International Piano Competition, Bai has performed extensively across the United States and China.
Born into a family of musicians, Bai began piano studies at the age of three and gave his first public recital at fourteen. He continued his training in the United States, studying with Dr. Washington Garcia at Texas State University before completing his undergraduate degree under the guidance of renowned pianist Marina Lomazov. He later earned his master’s and doctoral degrees at the prestigious Eastman School of Music, studying with Steinway Artists Marina Lomazov and Joseph Rackers. He is currently a faculty member at the University of Toledo.
Bai has recently completed a nine-city recital and masterclass tour across China in collaboration with ACOrange, the country’s largest private performance enterprise. He has also appeared as soloist with the University of Toledo Symphony Orchestra, performing Beethoven’s Emperor Concerto, and in 2024 gave the world premiere of Lowell Liebermann’s Nocturne No. 12, Op. 143.
An avid chamber musician, Bai formed the piano duo Coco&Nick with his partner, pianist Ke’er Wang. Together they have performed throughout the United States, appearing at the Southeastern Piano Festival, Lander University, the Texas State International Piano Festival, and with the Williamsburg Symphony Orchestra. Dedicated to new music, the duo has premiered works by composers including David Temperley (Suite for Two Pianos) and Daniel Perttu (Triptych of Fugues), with appearances at College Music Society conferences and Eastman’s Centennial Celebration.
As Visiting Assistant Professor of Piano Performance at the University of Toledo, Bai oversees the Dorothy MacKenzie Price Piano Series and Competition. He has served on juries for the Arthur Fraser International Piano Competition, the Miaomiao Rising Star Piano Competition, and others. His students have garnered top prizes internationally, and he was recently honored with the Distinguished Guidance Award and named Outstanding Teacher of the Year by the 17th Shanghai International Piano Competition.
Committed to community engagement and musical education, Bai and Wang co-founded the Miaomiao Piano Festival in Wuhai, China, where they continue to serve as Artistic Directors. They also co-direct Keyboard Explorations at Summer@Eastman and are active team members at the Vivace International Music Festival.
