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Susan Chan (Piano)

Born: Hong Kong

The Hong Kong-born pianist, Susan Chan, holds a Doctor of Music degree in piano from Indiana University and M.Phil. and B.A. degrees from the University of Hong Kong. She also pursued postgraduate studies at Yale University and holds the Fellowship and Licentiate Performance Diplomas from Trinity College of Music, London, UK. Her major piano teachers include György Sebök and Menahem Pressler. Various prizes she has received in competitions include first prizes in the Hong Kong Young Musicians Award, the Indianapolis Matinee Musicale, and the Mozart Piano Concerto Competition at Indiana University.

Susan Chan performs extensively as soloist and chamber musician, and, in addition to traditional repertoire, actively promotes music from Asia and music composed by women. She has performed in recitals and music festivals in the USA and Canada, Europe, Australia and Asia. She has been featured on public television and radio in the US as well as Radio Television Hong Kong. She has appeared as soloist with the Portland Columbia Symphony Orchestra, Hong Kong Chamber Orchestra, Hong Kong Sinfonietta, and the Bloomington Symphony Orchestra in Indiana.

Susan Chan is an active master-class teacher, presenter and adjudicator. In fall, 2004 she joined the faculty at Portland State University as Assistant Professor of Music and Piano Area Coordinator after being with Washington State University, where she received promotion and tenure. She teaches pedagogy, studio piano, class piano and keyboard literature. She has conducted master-classes and performed in universities, schools of music and music festivals in the USA, Canada, Europe, Australia and Asia.. Such institutions include Westminster Choir College, Oberlin College, University of Washington, University of Victoria, University of Cambridge, Karol Szymanowski School of Music in Warsaw, University of Sydney, Shanghai Conservatory, and Nihon University in Tokyo. She has lectured and performed at conferences of the Music Teachers National Association, Music Educators National Conference, College Music Society, and the Hawaii International Conference on Arts and Humanities. Her presentations include lecture recitals entitled "Rediscovery of Two French Classical Women Composers: Piano Music by Madame de Villeblanche and Marie Bigot," "An East-West Encounter in Contemporary Chinese Piano Music," "A Multimedia Performance of Frédéric Chopin’s Twenty-Four Preludes, Op. 28: As Inspired by Alfred Cortot," and "Morimur and Beyond: A Multimedia Performance of Bach-Busoni’s Chaconne in D Minor." She has adjudicated in festivals and competitions in the USA, Canada, Hong Kong and Japan. She has also published in Women of Note Quarterly and is listed in the 2000 edition of International Who’s Who in Music and Musicians’ Directory.

Her CD discography includes 'East West Encounter' featuring music by western and 20th-century Chinese composers, and 'Pièces Parisiennes' on the Hester Park label featuring French Classical women composers Villeblanche and Bigot.

"[a] gripping performance [in which] she enveloped her audience with the simple eloquence and love with which she so lavishly interpreted this music." - New York Concert Review’s comments on Susan Chan’s New York début recital in Weill Recital Hall, November 2000
"a thoughtful musician and a sensitive player" [who] "brought revelations [by performing] the invaluable service of opening up new musical worlds to her audience." - New York Concert Review, September 2007
"an energetic advocate for contemporary music." - The New Yorker


Source: MSR Classics Website; Portaland State University Website
Contributed by
Aryeh Oron (February 2009)

Susan Chan: Short Biography | Recordings of Instrumental Works

Links to other Sites

East West Encounter II (MSR Classics)

Profile: Susan Chan (Portland State University)


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