Gloria Chien is a Taiwanese-American classical pianist who has gained international recognition for her virtuosic performances and passionate interpretations of classical music. Born in Taiwan in 1977, Chien began playing the piano at the age of five and quickly showed a natural talent for the instrument. Her parents, both amateur musicians, recognized her potential and encouraged her to pursue a career in music. Chien's early musical education was rigorous and demanding. She studied with some of the most renowned piano teachers in Taiwan, including Lee Kum-Sing and Hung-Kuan Chen. At the age of nine, she won her first piano competition, the Taiwan National Piano Competition, and went on to win numerous other competitions throughout her childhood and teenage years. In 1996, Chien moved to the United States to attend the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston. There, she studied with Russell Sherman and Wha Kyung Byun and earned her Bachelor's and Master's degrees in piano performance. During her time at the conservatory, Chien won several prestigious awards, including the NEC Concerto Competition and the NEC Piano Honors Competition. After completing her studies at the New England Conservatory, Chien continued to hone her skills as a pianist by participating in masterclasses and workshops with some of the world's most renowned musicians, including Leon Fleisher, Menahem Pressler, and Richard Goode. She also began to establish herself as a soloist and chamber musician, performing in venues across the United States and abroad. One of Chien's most notable performances came in 2009, when she was invited to perform at the inauguration of President Barack Obama. Chien played a duet with violinist Joshua Bell, performing John Williams' "Air and Simple Gifts" for the newly sworn-in president and his guests. In addition to her solo performances, Chien is also a highly sought-after chamber musician. She has collaborated with some of the world's most renowned musicians, including cellist Yo-Yo Ma, violinist Itzhak Perlman, and clarinetist Richard Stoltzman. Chien is a founding member of the String Theory chamber music series in Chattanooga, Tennessee, where she serves as the artistic director and performs regularly with other world-class musicians. Chien's recordings have received critical acclaim and have been featured on radio stations and music programs around the world. Her debut album, "Brahms: Piano Quintet," was released in 2011 and was praised for its "exquisite playing" and "deeply felt interpretations." She has also recorded albums of works by Schumann, Mendelssohn, and Beethoven, among others. In addition to her performing career, Chien is also a dedicated music educator. She has taught at the New England Conservatory of Music, the Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University, and the Lee University School of Music. She is currently on the faculty of the Longy School of Music of Bard College in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Chien's numerous awards and honors include the Harvard Musical Association's Arthur W. Foote Award, the Salon de Virtuosi Career Grant, and the Andrew Wolf Chamber Music Award. She has also been a recipient of the prestigious Avery Fisher Career Grant, which is awarded to outstanding young musicians who show exceptional promise for a career in classical music.

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