Bella (Jiarui) Zhang is a PhD student in Music Psychology at the Reid School of Music, Edinburgh College of Art. Trained originally as a violinist in China at Xinghai Conservatory of Music, she completed an MA in Music Education at the University of York and an MA in Music Psychology at the University of Sheffield, graduating with Distinction. Her doctoral research investigates the interplay of culture, self-efficacy, and music performance anxiety, with a comparative focus on Chinese and UK students, exploring how positive psychology interventions may enhance musicians’ confidence and wellbeing.

Alongside her academic work, Bella has extensive performance and teaching experience: as a violinist she has played in orchestras, chamber ensembles, and taught students across different age groups. She has also led a cross-cultural study in collaboration with Audicin on binaural beats and immersive audio interventions, examining their impact on emotional wellbeing and productivity. Bella hopes to integrate her performance sensibility and psychological research to support musicians in managing anxiety and growing confidence in performance.