|
||||
|
||||
| A recipient of the 2002 Avery Fisher Career Grant, Meng-Chieh Liu first made headlines in 1993 as a 21-year-old student, when he substituted for André Watts at the Academy of Music in Philadelphia with three hours’ notice. His acclaimed performance was followed by a number of widely praised appearances, including a recital at the Kennedy Center.
Following Mr. Liu’s triumph in Philadelphia, an appearance with the Philadelphia Orchestra was immediately scheduled. However his career was abruptly halted by a rare and debilitating illness that affected his connective tissues and rendered him almost immobile for a year. Doctors believed his chances for survival were slim and, should he survive, playing the piano would be impossible. With arduous determination and relentless physical therapy, Mr. Liu has been restored to full health and returned to the concert stage several years ago. Mr. Liu has performed with orchestras under conductors Christoph Eschenbach, Gustavo Dudamel, and Alan Gilbert, among others. His concerts have been broadcast around the world, and Taiwanese National Television has aired a documentary on his life. A dedicated chamber musician, he has collaborated with musicians in North America, Europe, and Asia, in addition to working with artists in other disciplines, including Mikhail Baryshnikov and his White Oak Dance Project. He is the artistic director of Chicago Chamber Musicians, which he joined in 2009. Mr. Liu received his Bachelor of Music degree from the Curtis Institute of Music, where he studied with Jorge Bolet, Eleanor Sokoloff, and Claude Frank. He received first prizes in the Stravinsky, Asia Pacific Piano, and Mieczyslaw Munz competitions. Mr. Liu has been a member of the Curtis Institute of Music faculty since 1993 and also serves on the faculties of Roosevelt University and the New England Conservatory. One of the world’s finest and most selective conservatories, the Curtis Institute of Music offers a tuition-free, performance-inspired learning culture to 175 students from all corners of the world. Nurtured by a celebrated faculty, its extraordinary young musicians graduate to join 4,000 alumni who have long made music history. From Leonard Bernstein to Alan Gilbert, Samuel Barber to Jennifer Higdon, Anna Moffo to Eric Owens, Richard Goode to Jonathan Biss, Curtis alumni personify the school’s commitment to excellence—onstage and in their communities—inventing careers with impact. A busy schedule of performances, including more than 200 a year in Philadelphia and around the world, is at the heart of Curtis’s distinctive “learn by doing” approach. Dedicated to a tradition of excellence and innovation since its founding in 1924, Curtis is looking toward its centenary in a flexible and forward-thinking way, evolving strategically to serve its time-honored mission. Faculty Recital: Meng-Chieh Liu Friday, October 10 at 8 p.m. Field Concert Hall, Curtis Institute of Music, 1726 Locust Street, Philadelphia BRAHMS Free; no tickets required. Sunday, October 12 at 8 p.m. Field Concert Hall, Curtis Institute of Music, 1726 Locust Street, Philadelphia BRAHMS Free; no tickets required. ###
|
