2023 International Conference on Musical Arts and Pedagogy

I am glad to be invited as keynote speaker in 2023 International Conference on Musical Arts and Pedagogy held by National Pingtung University (NPTU). This conference takes place in the music department of National Pingtung University Pingshih Campus on April 25-27. On April 26 9am at the recital hall, as keynote speaker, I will talk about my art songs titled “The Connection of Chen Li’s Poems and My Art Songs.” On April 27 7:30pm at the concert hall, as composer, my three pieces, “A Pair of Wings” from The Flight Log for mixed chorus and piano, Three Sketches for piano four hands, Spring Breeze for violin and piano will be performed in the International Exchange Joint Concert. Thank NPTU and HoD Dr. Yeh for giving me this opportunity and hosting me in this conference period. It will be a wonderful time sharing my music, meeting with my old friends, and work with fantastic musicians and talented music students.

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Meng-Yun Weng Saxophone Recital

My Cave Railroad for solo alto saxophone will be performed by saxophonist Meng-Yun Weng at Bryan Recital Hall of Bowling Green State University (Bowling Green, OH, USA) at 8pm on April 11, 2023. Still remember I have attended the world premiere performance by saxophonist Po-Fang Chang at the same recital hall and location. Glad to know this piece coming back to there again after many years. If you are in the Ohio area, please come to the concert for supporting saxophonist Meng-Yun Weng. Free Admission! Thank you!

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Three Sketches

Thee Sketches (2022)
for Piano Four Hands

I. Prelude
II. Lullaby
III. March

Commissioned by Joyce Wan-Hsuan Wu and Tzu-Feng Liu (The Woven Sounds)

World Premiere:
November 19, 2022
New Asian Music with The Woven Sounds and Friends
Recital Hall, Austin Community College Highland Campus, Austin, TX, USA
The Woven Sounds:
Joyce Wan-Hsuan Wu, Peir-Shiuan Tang, piano

Duration: 10 minutes

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New Asian Music with The Woven Sounds and Friends

My new piece, Three Sketches for piano four hands, will be premiered at the recital hall of Austin Community College on November 19, 2022 (at 7:30pm). This piece is originally written for pianists Joyce Wan-Hsuan Wu and Tzu-Feng Liu. Both of them formed a piano-duet group, called “The Woven Sounds.” However, it was a great loss that Tzu-Feng Liu suddenly passed away due to the brain aneurysm on October 20, 2022. I decided to dedicate this piece to her. Thank Joyce for still making the premiere of this piece possible, and thanks for pianist Peir-Shiuan Tang willing to learn this piece in a very short time. If possible, wish Tzu-Feng could watch this piece being premiered from heaven. We will remember and miss you very much.

If you are in the Austin (TX) area, please come to the concert for supporting The Woven Sounds. Admission free!! Thank you.

Concert Program – New Asian Music with The Woven Sounds and Friends

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National Chung Cheng University Anniversary Celebration Concert

I was glad to see the premiere of my Under the Darkening Sky for chamber ensemble, performed by Sharing Chamber Orchestra, went well in Beigang and Douliou on October 15 and 16. It seems like a bonus that Sharing Chamber Orchestra will have an extra performance of this piece on October 27 again that they will join the concert celebrating National Chung Cheng University 33th anniversary. This concert will be at 7pm Activity Center of National Chung Cheng University. I just found this news on the day right before my birthday, and also found I am so lucky on what they have given this to me. If you have time, it will be another choice to support Sharing Chamber Orchestra.

For more information, please click this link – National Chung Cheng University Anniversary Celebration Concert 2022

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Under the Darkening Sky

Under the Darkening Sky (2020)
for Chamber Ensemble

Commissioned by Sharing Chamber Orchestra

Instrumentation:
1 Flute, 1 Oboe, 1 Percussion (Snare Drum, 2 Tom-Toms, Kick Drum, Suspended Cymbal, Triangle, Rainstick, and Metal Wind Chimes), 1 Harp, 1 Piano, 1 Violin, 1 Viola, 1 Cello

World Premiere:
October 15, 2022
Sharing Chamber Orchestra Concert 2022
Chiahu Performance Hall, Beigang Cultural Center, Yunlin, Taiwan
Sharing Chamber Orchestra


Duration: 8 minutes

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Sharing Chamber Orchestra Concert 2022

Under the Darkening Sky for chamber ensemble, composed in 2020, is a commissioned work by Sharing Chamber Orchestra. In that year which this piece was composed, a whole world was facing the threat of the COVID-19 pandemic, and it was a huge impact for the performing arts. Although Taiwan has a better situation at that time, compared with other countries, lots of events for performing arts were still cancelled as well as the one of Sharing Chamber Orchestra.

I am glad to know that Under the Darkening Sky will have it premiere after two years. It seems everything is going to be back to the normal now although the COVID-19 cases are still very high. Under the Darkening Sky is a piece describing a scene that people seek for the light and hope in the future when facing the difficulties.

Thanks for Sharing Chamber Orchestra’s hard work to make the premiere of this piece possible. Two concerts will take place in Yunlin, Taiwan. On October 15 (at 2:30pm), it will be at Chiahu Performance Hall of Beigang Cultural Center; on October 16 (at 2:30pm), it will be at Yunlin Performance Hall in Douliou. Douliou is also my hometown, and it is my pleasure to see my piece will be back to there to be performed. For more information, please refer to the poster below, and please come to the concerts to support Sharing Chamber Orchestra. Thank you!

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Sing a Triumphal Marching Song – TCO Chorus Concert

My mixed choir piece, “A Pair of Wing” from The Flight Log, will be performed at Zhongzheng Auditorium of Taipei Zhongshan Hall (Taipei, Taiwan) on November 13 (at 7:30pm) by TCO Chorus (Taipei Chinese Orchestra Chorus) with the conductor Li-Fen Chen and pianist Hsin-Jung Hsieh. It is a great pleasure for me to have this live performance with audiences in the concert hall during the period of COVID-19 pandemic (or post pandemic period). This song is mainly about the situation when the one feels discouraged and tries to be encouraged by wings of song. Hope the music could have power to let us face the unexpected challenge in the future during this serious time.

Ticket Information: Sing a Triumphal Marching Song – TCO Chorus Concert

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International Composers Symposium 2021

On October 9, 2021 (at 8pm UTC+8 via Zoom), I will have a talk on the topic “Motivations and Materials of Saxophone Compositions” at the International Composers Symposium 2021, held by University of Malaya, National Band Directors Association of Malaysia (NBDAM) and the Japan Foundation, Kuala Lumpur. As one of the featured composers, I will present two of my saxophone pieces, Cave Railroad for solo alto saxophone and Dream Landscapes for saxophone quartet. If interested, please register by scanning the QR code on the individual poster or click this link (https://bit.ly/3ndgiYs). Thank you!

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Our Poets Our Songs Concert

It is my pleasure to accept the commission from Association of Vocal Artists, R.O.C. I have composed five Chinese art songs for this commission. There are Aria for high voice and piano, Drunken Moon Lake for high voice and piano, Taiwan Sugar Museum, Qiaotou for medium voice and piano, Nuannuan for medium voice and piano, and Start of Spring for high voice and piano. The poems of the first four songs are from the poet Chen Li’s Island/ Country, and the poem of the last song is from the poet Xiang Yang’s Seasons. I would like to thank Mr. Chen Li and Mr. Xiang Yang for their kindly allowing me to compose these songs based on their poems.

These five songs will be received their premiere performance at 7:30pm on November 21 at the National Recital Hall in Taipei, Taiwan in “Our Poets Our Songs” Concert. It is also my pleasure to work with my fantastic singers, Fang-Yu Lin, Ya-Ping Hsu, Ting-Yu Fang, and pianist Yen-I Lee. I will be back to Taiwan for attending this concert as well from November 19 to 24. If you have time, please come the concert for supporting me and Association of Vocal Artists, R.O.C. Thank you very much!

Ticket Information: 你的歌我來唱系列 9~我們的詩人,我們的歌

Our Poets Our Songs Concert 2019 Poster
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