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Mei-Chun Chen is a Taiwanese-American composer and pianist who has gained international recognition for her unique and innovative compositions. Born in Taipei, Taiwan in 1984, Chen began playing the piano at the age of four and showed a natural talent for music from a young age. Her parents recognized her potential and encouraged her to pursue music as a career. Chen's early musical education was focused on classical piano, and she quickly became a skilled performer. She won numerous awards and competitions in Taiwan and was accepted into the prestigious Juilliard School in New York City at the age of 16. At Juilliard, Chen studied piano with Yoheved Kaplinsky and composition with Samuel Adler. She also earned a Bachelor of Music degree from the school. After completing her studies at Juilliard, Chen continued to develop her skills as a composer and pianist. She has performed as a soloist and chamber musician in venues around the world, including Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, and the National Concert Hall in Taipei. Her compositions have been performed by orchestras and ensembles in the United States, Europe, and Asia. Chen's music is characterized by its blend of Western classical music traditions with elements of Taiwanese folk music and other Asian musical styles. She often incorporates traditional instruments such as the erhu and guzheng into her compositions, creating a unique and distinctive sound. Her works are also known for their use of unconventional techniques and extended performance techniques. One of Chen's most notable compositions is her Piano Concerto No. 1, which was premiered by the National Taiwan Symphony Orchestra in 2012. The concerto is a virtuosic showcase for the solo piano, with intricate and challenging passages that demonstrate Chen's technical prowess as a pianist. The work also features elements of Taiwanese folk music, including a section in which the piano imitates the sound of a traditional Taiwanese instrument called the sheng. Another notable work by Chen is her String Quartet No. 1, which was premiered by the Momenta Quartet in 2014. The quartet is a complex and multi-layered work that explores themes of memory and nostalgia. It features a wide range of textures and timbres, with the strings often playing in unconventional ways such as plucking the strings with their fingernails or using mutes to create a muted, ghostly sound. Chen's music has been praised for its emotional depth and expressive power. Her compositions often explore themes of identity, memory, and cultural heritage, reflecting her own experiences as a Taiwanese-American musician. She has been recognized with numerous awards and honors, including the ASCAP Morton Gould Young Composer Award and the Juilliard Composers' Orchestra Competition. In addition to her work as a composer and pianist, Chen is also a dedicated educator. She has taught at the Juilliard School, the Manhattan School of Music, and the Taipei National University of the Arts. She is committed to promoting the next generation of musicians and composers, and has mentored many young musicians throughout her career. Overall, Mei-Chun Chen is a talented and innovative composer who has made significant contributions to the world of classical music. Her unique blend of Western and Asian musical traditions has earned her a devoted following and established her as one of the most exciting and original voices in contemporary classical music.

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