Jury Panel
Professor Benjamin Loh (Singapore)
A native of Singapore, Benjamin Loh first obtained his B.Sc. in Economics from the Wharton School of Business, University of Pennsylvania. Subsequently, he studied at the Manhattan School of Music, where he graduated with a Master of Music in Piano Performance as a student of Dr. Marc Silverman. While a student in Singapore, he studied with the late Mrs. Lucien Wang. Since returning to Singapore, he has successfully balanced the role of teacher and performer. Many of his students have won prizes in local and international piano competitions, and others have continued their musical training at prestigious institutions such as The Juilliard School, Cleveland Institute of Music, Eastman School of Music, Manhattan School of Music, École Normale de Musique de Paris, Purcell School, Royal College of Music (UK) and Mozarteum University. As a performer, he is often heard in chamber music concerts, and performs locally as well as abroad.
Mr. Loh very much in demand as a teacher and has given lectures and master classes in Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Taiwan, South Korea, Japan, Bulgaria, Italy, Costa Rica and the U.S.A. In South Korea, he was on the faculty of the Asia International Piano Academy & Festival (AIPAF) from 2008 to 2014, and was their International Advisor for seven years.
He has also given lectures and master classes at the Opus One International Music Festival, Montecito International Music Festival, John Perry Academy of Music, Hotchkiss Summer Piano Program, Colburn School, University of Iowa and Chicago International Music Competition and Festival in the U.S.A., Adam Gyorgy Castle Academy in Hungary, Adam Gyorgy Island Academy in Indonesia, 1st Chung Ang University International Piano Conference & Festival, Eumyoun International Music Festival and DMZ International Music Festival in South Korea, the 1st Bangkok Piano Symposium in Thailand, International Music and Performing Arts Festival in Indonesia, Amalfi Coast Music Festival and Music Fest Perugia in Italy as well as at the Costa Rica Festival and Piano Concerto Festival in Bulgaria.
As an adjudicator, he has been on the jury of the ASEAN Chopin International Piano Competition (Malaysia), e-Artium Competition (Malaysia), UCSI – International Piano Festival Competition (Malaysia), Boston-JCom Piano Competition (Indonesia), Indonesia International International Piano Competition (Indonesia) Chopin Piano Competition in Asia (Japan), PTNA Competition (Japan), All Japan Piano Concours (Japan), IIYM International Piano Competition (U.S.A.), Piano House International Piano Competition (U.S.A.), Asian Youth Music Competition (Hong Kong), Kawai Asia Piano Competition (China), Taiwan-Asia Piano Open Competition (Taiwan), Asia Piano Competition (Taiwan), Steinway Youth Piano Competitions in Singapore, Malaysia and the Philippines, and the 1st Korea-Asia Piano Open Competition (South Korea). This year, he was the Artistic Director of the Singapore Steinway Youth Piano Competition.
In the past, Mr. Loh has held the post of music critic for The Straits Times and The Business Times in Singapore. He was formerly Vice-President of the Singapore Music Teachers Association as well as Head of Music at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA), Singapore. Previously, he was on the piano faculty of the LASALLE College of the Arts and the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts in Singapore, and he currently maintains an active private teaching studio. He was previously on the Advisory Committee of the Singapore National Arts Council National Piano and Violin Competition and is an Honorary Consultant of The Amigos Music Society of Hong Kong.
In 2005, he was given the Special Recognition Award by the Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts (MICA) for his contributions to the Singapore National Arts Council.
Mr. Loh is a Steinway Artist and a Steinway Honorary Professor.
Lee Yin Hwa (Malaysia)
Lee Yin Hwa, an adjunct piano lecturer of UCSI University in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia obtained his Bachelors and Masters from Western Illinois University(WIU), and a one-year post-graduate study at Boston University under the Dean’s scholarship. His principal teachers include Prof. Anthony Di Bonaventura, Prof. Dr Michael Campbell, James Magsig, Rickie Oui and Serena Chow.
Yin Hwa was the 3rd prize winner at the 1st Brevard Music Festival piano competition in North Carolina, and concerto competition winner at WIU. He has worked with international musicians such as Andre Watts, Aldo Mancinelli, Jerome Rose, Bruce Murray, Florence Kirsch and Ying quartet. He has collaborated with MPO musicians and other distinguished local musicians. Together with his wife, Hee Jung Choi, Yin Hwa has appeared as a piano duo in concerts.
Within the local music scene, Mr Lee is also a much sought after soloist and chamber musician. He works frequently with the MPO orchestra and its chamber music groups. He has given masterclasses in UM, IUCTT, Sunway University, and UCSI. He has also represented Malaysia to play in the 1st Asia Grand Piano Concert. Currently, Yin Hwa serves as a member of the piano faculty at UCSI.
Yin Hwa is a well sought after clinician and adjudicator. Most recently, he served as the artistic director of the 1st Southeast Asia (SEA) piano competition, adjudicated for UCSI university piano competition(IPFC), KAE E-Artium piano competition, Euroasia music competition, The Asia Music Competition (Taiwan) and HKYPAF; The Symphonia’s, Star Quarto’s, RIPC, IOMF, The Perfect Tone National and Elyon’s Music competitions in Indonesia.
Lim U-Jin (Malaysia)
U-Jin Lim gained his B.Mus. at University of London where he studied piano with Hilary Coates and composition with Edward Gregson. Advanced diplomas in Performance and Teaching from Trinity College London and the Guildhall Schools of Music and Drama were also obtained. Adept in both classical as well as pop music genres, he taught at British schools and was also active as a session keyboardist.
He assisted in the formation of the undergraduate music programme at the Cultural Centre of University Malaya in 1998, where he taught piano performance and theory of music for over a period of 12 years, apart from being the department’s Head of Instrumental Studies and course leader for Music Theory. A study grant enabled a post-graduate degree inMusic Education Research from University Malaya. He actively adjudicates at national and regional festivals and competitions and was for several years on the examining panel for Trinity College London Classical Music and Rock & Pop as well as Trinity’s regional academic consultant for SEAsia until 2022.
He is currently the exam board’s national manager.
Chee Su-yen (Malaysia)
Malaysian pianist Su-yen Chee has established herself both as a soloist and chamber musician. She has given solo and collaborative recitals in the United States, Hong Kong, Japan, China, Korea, Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia. She has performed concertos with the HKAPA Symphony Orchestra and the Selangor Philharmonic Orchestra. She has also premiered many works of contemporary Malaysian composers and participated in the Soundbridge Contemporary Festival and Free Hand Contemporary Piano Festival. Recent solo performances include playing in the Academy Chopin Piano Festival 2025 in Hong Kong. Upcoming performance will be at the Sendai Classical Music Festival in Japan in October 2026.
Besides performing, she dedicates her time to teaching. Her students have won prizes in local and regional competitions and she is also sought after as an adjudicator, most recently for the MIA Young Musician Competition, UCSI University International Piano Festival and Competition 2014-2026 , Virtual InternationalMusic Competition 2020 , WST Music Competition 2026 and E-Artium Piano Competition 2021-2026. As an educator, she has been invited to give masterclasses and seminars in the region.
Su-yen is a graduate of Indiana University (Bloomington) and the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, where she completed her MMus and BMus (1st class honours) degrees respectively. Her major teachersinclude Karen Shaw, Michel Block and Gabriel Kwok. Currently,
Su-yen is an adjunct lecturer at UCSI University, ASWARA and maintains a private studio.
Professor Nam Yeung (Taiwan)
Dr. Nam Yeung is currently a full-time piano professor in the Music Department at the Tainan University of Technology, Taiwan. At the same time, he serves as the special visiting professor at Hansei University, South Korea. Dr. Yeung has been invited numerous times as a guest artist and has presented master classes and concerts at universities and festivals, including the Asia International Piano Academy & Festival in South Korea (honorary professor), Cremona International Music Festival in Italy, University of Malaya in Kuala Lumpur, Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts Summer Music Program, SiChuan Conservatory of Music and Beijing Normal University in China, Taipei National Concert Hall and Recital Hall, Wei Wu Ying National Art Culture Center Concert Hall and Performance Hall in Taiwan, Goethe Institute in Thailand,Lasalle College of the Arts in Singapore, Valencia and Malaga International Music Academy in Spain, The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Annual Spring Piano Festival, and Montecito International Music Festival (Excellence in Teaching Award) in the United States, among others.
Dr. Yeung has performed many recitals as a soloist, concerto soloist, and collaborative pianist throughout cities in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, China, South Korea, Spain, Italy and the United States. His outstanding performances have been broadcasted on both television and radio, including Hong Kong Radio 4, the National Korean Television Channel, Taiwan’s Public Television Channel, the Baton Rouge
Classic Radio Station and the Los Angeles Web TV station.
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In addition to a solo career, Dr. Yeung regularly promotes piano duo works by Taiwanese contemporary composers with his piano-duo partner, Dr. Tina Shao,. Their compact disc “A Harvest Festival of the Taiwanese Indigene” was selected by the Taiwanese Arts Council to present in the World Compact Disc Exhibition in Cannes, France. “From Mozart To Gershwin” was chosen and incorporated in an American movie titled “Waterwheel – The Story of Randy Chang” released by Mimosa Ministry.
He received his Doctor of Musical Arts degree at Louisiana State University, a Master of Music degree in Piano from the Peabody institute of the Johns Hopkins University, and an Advanced Diploma program from the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts as well as LRSM (Licentiate of Royal School of Music). Dr. Yeung is the winner of various competitions and awards including the American MTNA Piano Competition, The Monroe Young Artist Competition, The Jackson Symphony Orchestra Competition, The Hong Kong Kawai International Competition, The Maryland Music Club Piano Competition, and others.
Dr. Yeung has performed with the Monroe Symphony Orchestra, Changhua Symphony Orchestra and Tainan University of Technology Symphony Orchestra. He has also been appointed the Culture Affair Judicator of Tainan City Government and chairman of Tainan Music Teachers’ Association. The city mayor of Baltimore, Maryland, awarded Dr. Yeung honorable recognition for his musical achievements.
He is the author of books including Franz Liszt’s Piano Transcriptions Of Sonetto 104 Del Petrarca, An In-Depth Research to the Musical Style and Performance interpretation of Franz Liszt Through His Seven Piano Works and An interpretive Analysis of Franz Schubert’s Piano Sonatas in A minor (D. 845) and A major (D. 959). Additionally, he serves as a music critic on the newspaper in Taiwan.
Dr. Yeung has frequently been invited to serve as an adjudicator for numerous prestigious competitions, including the Hong Kong–Asia Piano Open Competition (Hong Kong), the Chopin Memorial Prizes Hong Kong International Piano Open Competition (Hong Kong), the Liszt Memorial Prizes International Piano Open Competition (Hong Kong), the Asia International Piano Academy and Festival with Competitions (South Korea), the 29th Japan Classical Music Competition (Japan), the Kayserburg Vietnam Youth Piano Competition, the KAWAI Asia Piano Competition (China), and theCremona International Music Academy Competition (Italy).
Professor Iswargia Renardi Sudarno (Indonesia)
Iswargia Renardi Sudarno is recognised not only as a pianist, but also as an educator, artistic director, and curator of musical programmes and arts activities. As a pianist, he has performed across five continents and has appeared as a soloist with several Indonesian orchestras, including the National Youth Orchestra Indonesia, Jakarta Concert Orchestra, Nusantara Symphony Orchestra, and the Symphony Orchestra of the Indonesian Institute of the Arts. He has also collaborated extensively with some of Indonesia’s leading composers, including Otto Sidharta, Tony Prabowo, Trisutji Kamal, and the late Slamet Abdul Sjukur.
As a conductor, Iswargia has served as a tutor of the Nusantara Chamber Orchestra and as Music Director of the National Youth Orchestra Indonesia. He currently serves as Music Director of the Jakarta Conservatory Chamber Orchestra and Jakarta Sinfonietta.
Born in Bandung, Iswargia began his piano studies there under the guidance of Ibu Wibanu, Partosiswojo, John Gobée, and Oerip S. Santoso. After completing his undergraduate degree in Architecture at the Institut Teknologi Bandung, he pursued graduate studies in music at the Manhattan School of Music in New York, where he studied under the legendary pianist and pedagogue Karl Ulrich Schnabel and earned the degree of Master of Music.
During the summer seasons, he furthered his studies with distinguished pianists including Bela Siki at the Johannesen International School of the Arts in Canada, Gabriel Chodos and Rita Sloan at the Aspen Music School in the United States, and Robert Levin at the Mozarteum International Summer Academy in Austria. He was also awarded a DAAD scholarship to pursue advanced musical studies at the Staatliche Hochschule für Musik Freiburg in Germany, where he studied with Hansjörg Koch.
In addition to serving as Academic Director of the Jakarta Conservatory of Music, Iswargia is a member of its senior teaching faculty. He has also served on the faculties of Universitas Pelita Harapan and Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia. He regularly gives masterclasses in major cities throughout Indonesia and Asia, including at the Asia International Piano Academy and Festival in Korea. His students have received numerous prizes in national and international piano competitions.
Hee Jung Choi (Korea)
Hee Jung Choi is a Korean pianist, educator, and adjudicator based in Malaysia. She holds a Master’s degree from Western Illinois University, where she was awarded the Graduate Assistant Award. During her time at WIU, she won the Concerto Competition twice—first as a soloist and subsequently as a member of a piano trio. She was later admitted to the postgraduate program at the University of Iowa as a recipient of the prestigious John Simms Piano Award.
As a performer, Choi has extensive experience as both a soloist and chamber musician. She was selected to tour with the Western Illinois University Wind Ensemble and served as the official Suzuki collaborative pianist for the Western Illinois area during its Centennial Celebration Concert.
Since establishing her professional career in Malaysia, she has collaborated with local musicians and participated in the 1st Asia Grand Piano Concert at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre. Her professional activities also include serving as an adjudicator for
numerous international and regional music competitions and festivals, including the Asia Music Competition, Hong Kong Youth Performing Arts Festival, KAE E-Artium Piano Competition and Festival, and Graceful Piano Competition and Festival in Malaysia, UCSI International Piano Competition and Festival as well as The Symphonia, Star Quarto, and Elyon’s Piano Competitions in Surabaya, Indonesia.
An active educator, Choi has taught piano at Universiti Malaya (UM) and Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI). She currently serves as a piano lecturer at UCSI University in Kuala Lumpur.
Jaz Tan (Malaysia)
Jaz Tan is a multifaceted musician and educator, renowned for her exceptional skills in piano and harp performance, as well as her dedication to music education. A graduate of the University of Western Ontario, Canada, Jaz earned her Master of Music degree in Piano Performance and Literature under full scholarship.
Jaz began her career as a lecturer at UCSI University in Kuala Lumpur, where her passion and expertise led to her promotion as Head of the Classical Music Degree Program. Currently, she works as an adjunct lecturer, coaching piano students. Additionally, she serves as the branch manager of Rave Harps KL Centre, overseeing harp education throughout the Klang Valley region of Malaysia.
An accomplished solo pianist and harpist, Jaz is also a collaborative musician who has performed in numerous choral, opera, and musical productions. Her expertise has led her to adjudicate both international and local piano competitions, including the International Music Festival in Indonesia, the UCSI International Piano Festival & Competitions, and the Singapore Raffles International Music Festival. She has also conducted masterclasses and workshops, sharing her knowledge and passion with aspiring musicians.
With a proven track record in teaching, Jaz has successfully guided many young musicians, helping them achieve distinctions in music exams and earn awards in various competitions. In recent years, she has focused on providing quality early childhood music education, nurturing a new generation of musicians
Rockie Siew (Malaysia)
Rockie Siew serves as Regional Consultant and National Coordinator for Rockschool (RSL Awards) in Malaysia and Brunei, supporting the development of contemporary music education and internationally recognised music qualifications across both countries. His work involves collaboration with music schools, teachers, and institutions to expand access to structured music education pathways and performance-based assessment frameworks aligned with contemporary music practice.
Through these initiatives, Rockschool programmes in Malaysia support thousands of students and educators through examination pathways, teacher training, and educational events designed to strengthen practical musicianship and industry-relevant skills.
He has also been involved with the Sunway University Ensemble since 2007, serving as Artistic Consultant and Conductor. The ensemble brings together students from a wide range of academic disciplines—many of whom are not music majors—to perform in a large mixed pop orchestra setting, with typically 60–100 students participating.
In this role he conducts rehearsals, curates repertoire, mentors student leaders, and prepares the ensemble for performances. The ensemble presents annual concerts and participates in outreach initiatives, including collaborations with secondary school orchestras, with the aim of encouraging greater participation in music-making among younger students. A notable initiative includes Triplet, a collaborative concert project involving orchestras from Sunway University, Monash University, and Taylor’s University.
He is also the founder of the Malaysian Music Centres and Music Teachers Association, which seeks to strengthen collaboration among music educators and support the development of music education providers..
In addition, he serves as Education Programme Director for ICAAN, an initiative under ChildAid Asia that provides contemporary arts education opportunities for underprivileged children. The programme is supported through the annual ChildAid Asia fundraising concert, where young musicians collaborate with international artists to raise funds for educational initiatives.
His work centres on strengthening connections between music education, community engagement, and contemporary musical practice.
“Music is more than examinations; it provides individuals with a voice to express themselves and the opportunity to create and perform together.”
Tin Pui Tang (Hong Kong)
Hong Kong-born pianist Tin Pui Tang is known for his sensitive musical approach and creativity. Tang has given concerts in the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada.
A frequent soloist collaborating with orchestras, his recent performances include several concerto works by Beethoven, Rachmaninoff, and Grieg with the Boston Mercury Orchestra, ABRSM Orchestra in Hong Kong, and the Academy Symphony Orchestra of the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts.
As a frequent visitor to international music festivals as a soloist, Tin Pui was invited to participate in prestigious events such as the Aspen Music Festival, Banff, Kirishima, Walnut Hill, Philadelphia Young Pianist Academy, Hanoi, and Borromeo. During these festivals, he received guidance from renowned musicians including Sergei Babayan, Gary Graffman, Dang Thai Son, Eliso Virsaladze, Katarzyna Popowa-Zydroń, Minsoo Sohn, Pi-Hsien Chen, Hung-Kuan Chen, Alexander Korsantia, Anton Nel, Fabio Bidini, Meng Chieh Liu, Gabriel Kwok, and conductor Leonard Slatkin. He also served as a Polonsky Foundation Fellow at the Aspen Music Festival and School in 2019.
Tin Pui obtained his Bachelor of Music at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts under a full scholarship provided by ABRSM in 2018 and was inducted to the Dean's List for his outstanding performance upon graduation. Following that, he furthered his studies in piano at the Royal Academy of Music under a full scholarship from The Muriel, Lady Kadoorie Music Scholarship. He graduated with a Master of Arts degree in piano performance with distinction in 2020. Later, he study under the tutelage of the legendary pedagogue Prof. Arie Vardi with great acclaim. His previous teachers include Prof. Rustem Hayroudinoff, Dr. Mary Mei Loc Wu, and pedagogue Mr. Isaac Lau.
In addition to his extensive performance experience, Tin Pui has made significant contributions to music education and adjudication. He has served as a jury member for the VI International Liszt Ferenc (Hungary-Budapest) Competition in both the Macau and Hong Kong divisions, and has been invited as an adjudicator for the Rising Stars International Arts Festival & Competition, Vietnam. He has also adjudicated local school piano competitions in Hong Kong, such as the King's College Piano Competition, and previously taught at the International Christian Quality Music Secondary and Primary School. Furthermore, he has frequently served as a piano accompanist for concerts and competitions at Harrow International School Hong Kong.
Dedicated to nurturing the next generation of musical talent, Tin Pui currently operates the Tin Pui Piano Academy as Music Director, providing professional piano training courses at international standards. Under his guidance, numerous students have won international awards and received full scholarships to study at prestigious music institutions such as the Royal College of Music. He is also the Artistic Director of the Hong Kong International Piano Grand Prix Competition
In terms of professional development, Tin Pui was selected to participate in and successfully completed the 2025 Executive Leadership Development Programme (ELDP), co-organised by the Hong Kong Arts Development Council (HKADC) and the HKU Business School, demonstrating his exceptional potential in arts management and leadership.
Dr. Poon Chiew Hwa (Malaysia)
Dr. Poon is a Malaysian pianist and educator who serves as Senior Lecturer at Universiti Malaya. She is also a Trinity College London Music Examiner and regularly adjudicates piano competitions in Malaysia and internationally.
She has performed across the United States, Mexico, Spain, the United Kingdom, and Malaysia, earning strong critical acclaim. After performances in Arizona and Morelia, Mexico, reviewers praised her expressive artistry, describing her as a pianist “who has the power to communicate her emotions intensely,” with playing that left audiences “weeping with gratitude and admiration.” Her appearances include the University of Arizona Pianists on Tour in the United States and Mexico, the Gijón International Piano Festival in Spain, recital performances in Kuala Lumpur, and a concerto appearance with the Missouri State University Symphony Orchestra. She was recently invited to teach at the MK Nextwave International Music Camp in South Korea.
Dr. Poon is a prizewinner of several competitions, including First Prize and the Audience Prize at the Lois Trester Piano Competition. Her winning performance was broadcast on NPR’s KUAT-FM in Tucson, Arizona.
An advocate for music and movement education, she integrates Dalcroze-inspired approaches into her teaching and outreach work. She holds a Doctor of Musical Arts in Piano Performance from the University of Arizona and an Applied Credential in Dalcroze Education from the Longy School of Music, and she currently serves as President of the Dalcroze Society of Malaysia
Dr. Simon Callaghan
(United Kingdom)
Simon Callaghan performs internationally as a soloist and chamber musician, in parallel with a highly successful career as a recording artist. He appears regularly in the UK’s major concert halls, and on tours to Asia, North America and Europe. Callaghan’s recent release of Bennett Concertos with the Royal Northern Sinfonia and Martin Yates was Gramophone Editors’ Choice, and received high critical acclaim, notably from Presto Music: “his technique is seamless in its command, but always in service to the music so that the fireworks are integral to the musical communication rather than being the focus. It is his commitment to the substance of whatever he is playing that makes Callaghan a persuasive advocate of a wealth of under-appreciated repertoire”.
As concerto soloist, Simon Callaghan has recently collaborated with the Ulster Orchestra, BBC National Orchestra of Wales, Royal Northern Sinfonia and the Sinfonieorchester St Gallen, with conductors including Jac van Steen, Martin Yates, Modestas Pitrėnas and Martyn Brabbins. Recital partners have included Sheku Kanneh-Mason, Jack Liebeck, Coco Tomita, Nicholas Daniel, Julian Bliss Adrian Brendel, Ben Goldscheider, Feng Ning, Raphael Wallfisch, Ruth Rogers, Samuel West, Prunella Scales and Timothy West. He is also a founding member of the London Piano Quartet, joining colleagues from the renowned Piatti Quartet to showcase the repertoire for piano quartet with a particular focus on revivifying works that have fallen intoobscurity.
Simon Callaghan’s distinguished and eclectic discography includes recordings for Hyperion, Somm, Nimbus and Lyrita. He has a strong profile on BBC Radio 3 and on a variety of streaming platforms, his most recent single on Apple Music with Coco Tomita surpassed 1 million streams in its first month. He is a strong social media enthusiast, using it as a form of promotion forclassical music in general but seeing it as a particular tool in his advocacy of the rare and unexplored.
Callaghan’s broad repertoire encompasses the standard works of the 19th and 20th centuries and increasingly concentrates on much that is little known, examples including Bernhard Scholz, Josef Rheinberger and Carl Reinecke. A cornerstone of Simon’s work is his commitment to British music, and he has an ongoing series on Lyrita, recording world premieres of British concertos
with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales. Callaghan has also made first recordings of the complete piano music by Rebecca Clarke, George Dyson and William Busch. He has recorded four albums for Hyperion’s celebrated The Romantic Piano Concerto series. His first disc for Hyperion, with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra and Martyn Brabbins, formed part of his PhD at the Royal Northern College of Music and was praised by BBC Radio 3’s Andrew McGregor: “I have nothing but praise for the performances... impressive pianism”.
In 2020, Simon recorded L’Histoire de Babar with actor Miriam Margolyes. The album received five stars from The Independent, reviewer Michael Church commenting that: “here, thanks to Harry Potter actor Miriam Margolyes’s artistry and Simon Callaghan’s excellent pianism, is Poulenc’s delightful musical response… It lasts just 30 minutes, but my god does it resonate.” Simon Callaghan’s reputation and experience in chamber music led to his appointment as Artistic Director at London’s celebrated Conway Hall, only the sixth incumbent since the founding of the Sunday Concerts series in 1887. He is Professor of Piano at the Royal Northern College of Music, and was elected a Steinway Artist in 2012.
Professor Tina Shao (Taiwan)
Dr. Tingwen Tina Shao is a full-time Associate Professor of Music at the Tainan University of Technology, and has served as the Dean of the Music Department since 2024. A member of the Pi Kappa Lambda National Honor Society, she primarily engages in education regarding piano performance, piano literature, and the history of Taiwanese music.
Over the years, she has taught and performed in summer events such as Tainan International Music Festival in Taiwan, Cremona International Music Festival in Italy, Montecito International Music Festival in the United States, Asia International Piano Academy & Festival in South Korea, and Valencia International Piano Academy as well as the IV Festival International Piano Malaga in Spain. She was invited as the juror in Southwestern Youth Music Festival Piano Competition in California, Japan Classical Music Competition in Tokyo (Piano Division), Chopin Memorial Prizes Hong Kong International Piano Open Competition, Liszt Memorial Prizes International Piano Open Competition in Hong Kong, Kayserburg Vietnam Youth Piano Competition in Hanoi, and Singapore International Piano Competition. Her students have won a variety of national competitions in Taiwan as well as international ones held in Hong Kong, Thailand, South Korea, the United States, Bulgaria, and Germany.
A native of Taiwan, Dr. Shao holds an Associate Bachelor’s Music Diploma from the Tainan University of Technology, Bachelor and Master of Music in Performance from the Peabody Conservatory of Music of Johns Hopkins University as well as a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from Louisiana State University.
Dr. Shao is the recipient of various honors and winner of numerous competitions. Among these are the Louisiana State University Concerto Competition, the Arkansas State Piano Competition, the Monroe Symphony Orchestra Young Artist Competition, the National Teachers National Association Wurlitzer Collegiate Artist Contest, and a full scholarship from the Evergreen Foundation to study piano performance at the Peabody Conservatory of Music.
As a writer, Dr. Shao has released books such as Franz Liszt’s Transcription of Johann Sebastian Bach’s Prelude and Fugue in A Minor (BWV 543), Painting in Music and Beethoven’s Piano Sonatas Op. 31 No.2, Op.57 and Op. 81a: An Interpretative Research; Journal and periodical thesis include the Thumb Technique, and The Great Gems of W. A. Mozart’s Keyboard Repertoire: Capriccio in C Major, K. 395 and Adagio in B Minor, K. 540.
In addition to solo performances, Dr. Shao plays piano duo music with Dr. Nam Yeung. Together, they have released two CD compilations titled From Mozart To Gershwin and A Musical Harvest Festival on the Joy Art Label and Glorious Pantheons, respectively. Her soundtrack was incorporated in the film Waterwheel - The Story of Randy Chang released by Mimosa Ministry. She was also involved in several collaborations: a violin video recording, Poetry of Music, as well as the recordings of 18 contemporary pieces for Soprano Contemporary Art Songs in Taiwanese by Woman Composers.
Her events can be appreciated throughout musical centers in Taiwan, Hong Kong, China, South Korea, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Russia, Italy, Spain, Canada, and across the United States. Dr. Shao has received her Certificate Recognition for outstanding contributions in the music field issued by the Houston City Council.
Ricky Tsang (Hong Kong)
Ricky Tsang was born in Hong Kong and studied at The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts where he obtained Advanced Diploma under the tutelage of Gabriel Kwok and later at Shanghai Conservatory of Music obtained Master of Music in Piano Performance as a student of Keng Zhou and later with Angela Cholakian, a disciple of Yevgeny Malinin– the Heritage of Heinrich Neuhaus. He has also benefited from other distinguished pianists and pedagogues include Anton Kuerti, Tigran Alikhanov, Oxana Yablonskaya, Hilary Coates, Monique Duphil, Sharon Mann, Mack McCray, Yoshikazu Nagai, Vanessa Latarche, Stephen Savage, Joseph Banowetz and Yuliana Avdeeva. His other mentors included Mingqiang Li, Cheungyu Mo and Tao Chang.
Winner of International Inter-School Performance Challenge Award of Australia, he has toured Australia with engagements from Qantas Airways and Jayday Music and later featured as guest artist in 39th St.Cecilia Music Concert Series and presented a solo recital at the Albert Hall in Launceston where he awarded the Fellowship from St. Cecilia School of Music, Australia. Other notable performances includes the New Year Concert by the government of Xinjiang, China and 7th Icy and Snow Cultural Festival to perform“Yellow River” Piano Concerto as soloist with orchestra and has been broadcasted widely in Xinjiang, China and he has been highlighted as guest artist of Zendai Himalayas Art Festival as the first pianist performs at Daguan Theatre in Shanghai, China, the masterclass series of Hong Kong Arts Festival and China Shenzhen Piano Duo Festival, Chiangmai Thailand Ginastera Music Festival, Los Angeles International Liszt Festival and Kyungsung International Piano Festival in Busan, South Korea and others.
He has been a jury member frequently on music competition in South East Asia, Mainland China and local HK, including Steinway & Sons International Youth Competition in Singapore and Hong Kong, Rising Star
International Music Competition and Festival in Vietnam, Indonesia Virtuoso Music Award, Chiangmai Ginastera International Music Competition in Thailand, China Shanghai International Music Festival, China Boao Art Festival, Hong Kong International Music Competition & Festival and Tom Lee Music Culture Competition in Hong Kong.
In the past, he has appointed as Committee Member of 9th & 10th Shanghai Conservatory of Music – Shanghai International Piano Festival & Master Class, Guest Lecturer at Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, Summer Piano Festival, Senior Lecturer (Keyboard) at China Guangdong Open University - College of Music and Artist Faculty at China Foshan Art Centre.Now he is a Master Teacher at Tom Lee Music, Hong Kong.