Duo Forzando is a dynamic violin and piano duo that brings dynamically contrasting programs and daring performances to the stage. Violinist Henry Zheng and pianist Michael Finlay began performing together when they were brought together by chance when another pianist was injured in a fishing accident at the last minute. Many performances and five years later, Duo Forzando was born. The duo has performed at the Thirsty Ears Music Festival, New Music Chicago: Presents, the Northbrook Public Library chamber music series, Narloch Piano Studios, and more.

Violinist Henry Zheng is based in Chicago, Illinois, where he performs, teaches, and spends time with his wife and their big orange cat, Tommy. Recent highlights include commercial album releases of his chamber performances with Access Contemporary Music and Lakeshore Rush, screen and music credits on multiple episodes of the PBS documentary “Songs About Buildings and Moods”, an invitation to perform as guest concertmaster of the Knox-Galesburg Symphony Orchestra, and an award from the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events.

Frequently sought after as a performer, Henry has performed with critically acclaimed chamber groups and orchestras, including the three-time Grammy Award nominated Spektral Quartet, Kontras Quartet, Griffon Quartet, Chicago Philharmonic, and Chicago Opera Theater. Henry is also an active proponent of contemporary and period performance. As a passionate educator, Henry serves on the faculty of the Merit School of Music and manages his own private studio. Henry’s primary instruments are a violin made in 1761 by John Johnson, and a bow made by Michael Hattala.

Michael Finlay is an award winning concert pianist, most recently invited to perform at the Dame Myra Hess series in Chicago. He is a 2022 prizewinner of The American Prize Ernst Bacon Memorial Award. He maintains an international performing career with recent performances in Italy, New York, Atlanta, Denver, and Chicago.

Upcoming projects include live-streamed performances of the complete Beethoven violin sonata cycle with Denver-based violinist Byron Hitchcock and an all-Chopin album featuring the second and third piano sonatas and assorted shorter works, for release in 2023.

Finlay holds a Bachelor’s degree from the Cleveland Institute of Music where he worked with Paul Schenly, Antonio Pompa-Baldi, and Kathryn Brown; a Master’s from the Peabody Conservatory, where he studied with Yong Hi Moon; and a Doctorate from the University of Montreal, where he studied with Marc Durand.