Born in Shanghai, China, Jiayin Zhang graduated from her master’s degree in Collaborative Piano and Piano Pedagogy in Michigan State University and is continuing her doctorate degree in Collaborative Piano in MSU under the tutelage of Professor Deborah Moriarty and Dr. Zhi-hua Tang. She held a bachelor’s degree in Musicology major in Shanghai Normal University. 

As a performer, Jiayin has regularly given solo and collaborative recitals in China and the United States. She has extensive experience in instrumental, vocal, choral, and orchestral collaborations. During her master's degree, she cooperated with vocalists and instrumentalists to give recitals. As a coach of the Boyue Choir of Shanghai Normal University, she participated in several choir competitions and choir seminars throughout China and Europe.

As a student studying Piano Pedagogy, she has rich experience in teaching and practicing that she had internship in Huishi Primary School Xuhui Shanghai for a whole semester. Also, she participated in the 2016 National Piano Teaching Seminar - 20th anniversary of Piano Art Magazine and 135th and 136th Michigan Music Teachers Association as an assistant. Jiayin has won diverse competitions including the Prime Golden Bell Piano Competition where she received the first place of piano solo of College Students in Shanghai Area. She also has received coaching and masterclasses from internationally acclaimed artists including Jonathan Feldman, Norman Krieger, Yong Hi Moon, Eric Zuber, Scott McBride Smith, Andrew Le, Tao Lin, Gila Goldenstein, Xi Zhang, and Carl Petersson.

Her principal teachers have been Deborah Moriarty, Zhi-hua Tang, Derek Polischuk, Tamar Mikeladze and Hao-bing Zhu.