Ty Zhang received First Prize in the Guitar Foundation of American (GFA) International Concert Artists Competition in 2017, known as the most prestigious guitar contest in the world. He has received First Prize in other top competitions as well in Austria, China, Russia and the U.S., including the GFA International Competition Senior Division, Austria’s Forum Gitarre Wien International Youth Competition, the Changsha International Guitar Competition, the 2017 Schadt String Competition, and the 2017 Alexander Frauchi International Competition in Moscow.