With “Multiculturalism in Taiwan” as the underlying theme, Chinese music is intended as the central medium that also incorporates cross-field elements such as other genres of music and illustrations to portray the everyday life of the people and present the beautiful cultural landscape of Formosa. A lively, affable approach is adopted to promote Chinese music and introduce Taiwanese culture to the general public.
Brief Introduction of the Program
Pushed forward by the surging waves of history, the rich and diversified cultures of Taiwan converge to manifest the fascinating and mutually responsive sounds of Formosa. The concert, presented by Chinese Music Department at National Taiwan University of Arts, features 3PeopleMusic, who creates ingenuously modernized sounds on their traditional instruments, as well as the versatile musicians Chung-Ching Chen and Peng Diao, whose musical pursuit reach beyond any existing genre, thus taking you on an audio journey full of wonder.
Brief Introduction of the Troupe
Since its establishment in 1971, Chinese Music Department at National Taiwan University of Arts has been dedicated to the education and development of Chinese music in Taiwan with its emphasis on performance. It aimed to provide solid and professional training for musicians of traditional Chinese instruments to nurture the young talents both on stage and in academic studies. Via its focuses on tradition, academics, performance, and diversified practices, it prepares its students with multidimensional specialties which will ultimately nourish the development of Chinese music in Taiwan.
Conductor/ Shin-Tsai Huang
Conductor/ Chun-Hsien Chen
Ensemble/3PeopleMusic
Liuqin/ Chung-Ching Chen
Piano/ Peng Diao
Illustration Design/ Yun-Chiao Hsu
NTUA Zheng Ensemble
NTUA Chinese Orchestra
Conductor/ Shin-Tsai Huang
Huang, a native of New Taipei City, specializes in double bass, conducting, and composition. In 1980, he graduated from the Chinese Music Department, National Taiwan Academy of Arts where he majored in double bass under Prof. Chi Da-wei. After passing the Ministry of Education’s exam for government scholarships for studying abroad in 1982, he went on to graduate from Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique de Paris as the top-ranking student in performance under Prof. Jean-Marc Rollez in 1985. After returning to Taiwan, he first became principal double bass of the National Concert Hall Symphony Orchestra and Taipei Philharmonic Orchestra before concurrently acting as deputy artistic director of the National Taiwan Academy of Arts Experimental Chinese Orchestra (now National Chinese Orchestra) during 2000-2007. He now teaches at the Chinese Music Department, National Taiwan
Conductor/ Chun-Hsien Chen
A former member of the National Chinese Orchestra, Chen is now an assistant professor at National Taiwan University of Arts and adjunct assistant professor at Chinese Culture University.
Years of performing, conducting, and cultural and academic exchanges have brought him to Europe, Asia, America, Oceania, and Russia. During this period, he collaborated with the National Chinese Orchestra, Taipei Chinese Orchestra, Tainan City Traditional Orchestra, Kaohsiung Chinese Orchestra, and Taiwan Yangqin Orchestra. In 2014, he won wide acclaim for serving as visiting conductor of the Hong Kong Music Office’s Chinese Orchestra.
Liuqin/ Chung-Ching CHEN
A plucked string instrumentalist, Chen is one of the first Young Stars of Chinese Music chosen by National Theater & Concert Hall. She is now an adjunct assistant professor at National Taiwan University of Arts and a member of two ensembles—Spectro 7 and Sizhukong.
To date, she has held a good number of solo recitals and participated in international performances across Europe, America, Asia, and the Caribbean. Spectro 7’s 2020 album “Stream Legend” won gold medals for the best album and best fusion music at the 2022 Global Music Awards of the U.S. and was a best instrumental album nominee for Taiwan’s 32nd Golden Melody Awards in 2021. In May 2023, she became a resident musician in Taiwan’s diplomatic ally Saint Lucia under the Spotlight Taiwan Project, a collaboration between the Ministry of Culture and Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In June 2023, Spectro 7 released its second album “Initial.”
Piano/ Peng DIAO
Diao holds a master’s degree from the Chinese Music Department, National Taiwan University of Arts where he majored in horizontal bamboo flute and minored in piano. A two-time winner of second prize for solo horizontal bamboo flute in Taiwan’s National Student Competition of Music, he enjoys challenging himself with performances in different musical styles and excels in fusing jazz vocabulary into his traditional music compositions. In 2022, he won a best musician award at the 13th Golden Indie Music Awards.
In 2018, Diao started Grass Walkers, an ensemble of horizontal and vertical bamboo flutes, keyboard, bass, and drum set that soon found its way into music festivals of different sizes: the 19th Hohaiyan Rock Festival (Top 10), matchmaking for the 2019 World Music Festival, 2020 World Music Festival, Garage 103 Rock Party, Beastie Rock Festival, and Taipei Surrounded With Music (Top 10).
Ensemble/3PeopleMusic
Founded in 2013, 3PeopleMusic is composed of three young musicians: Ching-mu Kuo (zheng), I-tung Pan (ruan), and Chung Jen (Di and Xiao). It stands out as a unique chamber ensemble that draws on classical music to culminate in a distinctly contemporary vibe.
Since its inception, 3PeopleMusic has come up with unique trio works meant for zheng, ruan, Di and Xiao that span eras and blend styles. The three musicians share a commitment to reimagining tradition and undertaking cross-field cooperation in the sphere of contemporary music. In addition to participating in multiple forms of performances and collaborating with other musicians, 3PeopleMusic is proactive to commission custom-made compositions, thus creating a more diverse and captivating music landscape.
Illustration Design/ Yun-Chiao HSU
A native of the Penghu archipelago, Hsu holds a master’s degree in design management from the University of Southampton in the U.K. and a bachelor’s degree in anthropology from National Taiwan University.
Hsu is a freelancer specializing in graphic design, illustration, and layout. In 2020, she started “When I Sea You Studio.” This led to her collaboration with local artisans to help promote Penghu’s offerings in the cultural and creative sphere.