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Contemporary

 

Ya-Ting Chang is a Taiwanese-American classical pianist who has gained international recognition for her virtuosic performances and passionate interpretations of classical music. Born in Taipei, Taiwan in 1978, Chang began playing the piano at the age of four and quickly showed a natural talent for the instrument. Her parents, both music lovers, recognized her potential and encouraged her to pursue a career in music. Chang's early musical education was rigorous and demanding. She studied with some of the most renowned piano teachers in Taiwan, including Ching-Yun Hu and Hung-Kuan Chen. At the age of 12, she won first prize in the Taiwan National Piano Competition, which marked the beginning of her career as a concert pianist. In 1995, Chang moved to the United States to attend the Juilliard School in New York City. There, she studied with Yoheved Kaplinsky and earned her Bachelor's and Master's degrees in piano performance. During her time at Juilliard, Chang won numerous awards and competitions, including the Gina Bachauer International Piano Competition and the Concert Artists Guild Competition. After graduating from Juilliard, Chang embarked on a successful career as a concert pianist, performing in major concert halls around the world. She has appeared as a soloist with many of the world's leading orchestras, including the New York Philharmonic, the Philadelphia Orchestra, and the National Symphony Orchestra. She has also collaborated with some of the most distinguished conductors of our time, including Leonard Slatkin, Christoph Eschenbach, and David Robertson. Chang's repertoire is vast and varied, ranging from the Baroque era to contemporary music. She is particularly known for her interpretations of the music of Beethoven, Chopin, and Rachmaninoff. Her performances are characterized by their technical brilliance, emotional depth, and musical sensitivity. In addition to her career as a performer, Chang is also a dedicated teacher and mentor. She has taught at the Juilliard School, the Mannes School of Music, and the University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory of Music and Dance. She is currently on the faculty of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where she teaches piano and chamber music. Throughout her career, Chang has received numerous awards and honors for her contributions to the world of classical music. In 2006, she was named a Steinway Artist, joining a select group of pianists who are recognized for their excellence in performance and dedication to the art of piano playing. In 2010, she was awarded the Outstanding Alumna Award by the Juilliard School, in recognition of her achievements as a performer and educator. Chang's recordings have also received critical acclaim. Her debut album, "Beethoven: Piano Sonatas Op. 109, 110, 111," was released in 2008 and was praised for its technical precision and emotional depth. Her second album, "Chopin: Piano Sonata No. 2, Ballades," was released in 2012 and was hailed as a "tour de force" by critics. In addition to her work as a performer and teacher, Chang is also a passionate advocate for the arts. She has served on the board of directors of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center and the National Guild for Community Arts Education. She is also a founding member of the Taiwan Connection Music Festival, which brings together musicians from Taiwan and the United States for collaborative performances and cultural exchange.

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