About Me
Zara Walker was born in Coral Springs, Florida on January 14, 2010, and started her violin career in Paris, France at 3 years old. Coached by her mom, Dr. Lisa Walker, Zara has blossomed to become an outstanding violinist and has performed on several international stages including Juilliard in New York.
In 2018 at age 7, Zara won concertmaster for DC Youth Orchestra - Young Artist Orchestra in Washington DC and was later promoted to Assistant Principal of the Youth Philharmonic Orchestra. She was also invited to join the Young Virtuosi, an elite performing group of DC Youth Orchestra that admits members by invitation only.
Prior to this, Zara performed in the first violin section of Florida Youth Orchestra – Preparatory Orchestra and was the youngest in the history of orchestra. She also served as concertmaster for the Jamaica Debut Orchestra in Kingston, Jamaica and the Frederick Regional Youth Orchestra - Prelude Orchestra in Frederick, Maryland.
Zara sitting in the first violin section with her mom, Dr. Lisa Walker, playing Beethoven Symphony No. 5 entire work, Washington DC, 2018
Zara with her sisters (Jada and Emma) and brother (Luke) at Florida Youth Orchestra Concert, 2016
By 2020 at age 10, Zara had become a seasoned violinist and received Full Scholarship to attend Advanced Strings Classes at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music (Pre-College), also known as the "Juilliard" of the West Coast.
Later, she was admitted to one of Juilliard’s Pre-College Music Programs in New York on full scholarship and was selected for Juilliard funded European Tour – Chineke! Junior Orchestra for summer 2022.
In 2022, Zara and her young siblings (Alex and Emma) were among 22 students admitted to the prestigious Special Music School in New York from a batch of over 800 applicants. She was also one of 6 persons selected from over 3,000 applicants around the world for Interlochen Arts Camp Advanced Strings Concerto Competition Finals that she attended on full scholarship.
Zara and her siblings first day at Juilliard, New York, 2021