CELLIST – WEN-HSIU CHANG

Born in Taichung, Taiwan, Chang Wen-Hsiu began her musical life as a pianist and later decided to pursue her career as a cellist. She participated in many piano competitions, receiving third prizes from the Vienna Music Competition and the Taichung County Music Competition in 1997, and first prize from the Baroque Music Competition in 2000.

In 2004 Wen-Hsiu had her first experience to be accompanied by an orchestra as a soloist, performing Elgar Cello Concerto op.85. It was not only a meaningful experience, but also a turning point for her music career as she received much power and encouragement from the audience while sharing her music on stage.        

Wen-Hsiu learned from musicians worldwide such as Nasenial Rosen, Aldo Parisot, Claus Kanngiesser, Wen-Sinn Yangand Alta Noras. She currently studies in Germany at the Cologne Univeristy of Music (Hochschule für Musik, Köln) with Claus Kanngiesser.

During her musical studies, Chang has travelled around the world to such places as the Germany, Taiwan, USA, China, Japan, and Korea. “I am so thankful and glad to be a musician! Music can be so close to people! I really feel that music is the best gift from heaven! No matter which instrument, it’s just a beautiful moment to communicate with people.”

FLUTIST – CHING-MIN LIN

Ching-min Lin was born in Pingtung, Taiwan, and began studying the flute at the age of nine. Shortly after that, she was awarded 3^rd place in the Taiwan National Music Competition and had her first experience as a soloist accompanied by an orchestra performing Saverio Mercadante flute concerto in e-minor at the age of fourteen.

After graduating from university, she went to France to study under Proffessor Pierre-Yves Artaud at  'Ecole Normal de Musique de Paris'（ENMP). In 2009, she received the 'Diplôme Supérieur de Concertiste de Flûte à l'unanimité du jury'  from ENMP. At the same time, she earned the 'Diplôme d’Etudes Musicales Specialite Piccolo' at the 'Conservatoire à Rayonnement Départemental de Clamart' under Proffessor Pierre Dumail of 'l’Orchestre de l’Opéra National de Paris'.

Ching-min was awarded 'The winner of Belgrade 2005 International Flute Competition” in Serbia. In 2006 she was invited to perform in Duesseldorf, Germany with 'The French Young Musicians Orchestra', and the 'Orchestre de Flûte Francais' tour of France. She also participated in master classes and music camps with worldwide prestigious musicians such as Peter-Lukas Graf, Robert Aitken, Maxence Larrieu, Philippe Pierlot, Benoit Fromanger, Hansgeorg Schmeiser, Pilippe Bernold, William Bennett and Hans-Udo Heinzmann.

CLARINETIST - VIRGINIA FIGUEIREDO

Education Achievement: Doctorate of musical Arts (DMA)- University of California, Los Angeles; Master of Music (MM) – California State University; Licenciate and Bachelor (BA) – Superior School of Music of Lisbon, Portugal; Diploma – Coimbra Music Conservatory.

Portuguese clarinetist Dr. Figueiredo began her musical studies at the age of six. She received her BA from the Lisbon’s Superior School of Music, her Masters from the CSU, Fullerton, and her Doctorate from UCLA, all degrees in Clarinet Performance. She has studied under Gary Gray, Hakan Rosengren, Nuno Silva, Carlos Alves, Jacques Di Donato, Carl Leister, Phillippe Cuper, and many others. Dr. Figueiredo has toured France, Spain, Italy, and Russia with Portuguese orchestras.

Dr. Figueiredo has been a recipient of many awards both in the US and in Portugal, and of scholarships from the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, the Foundation for Science and Technology, and from the Herb Alpert School of Music at UCLA. She has appeared as soloist in the US, Europe, and in Venezuela, and she is an active clinician as well, teaching clarinet master classes in Europe, US, and Venezuela.

Dr. Figueiredo has been a teaching assistant at UCLA for the classes of chamber music and clarinet, and has been teaching clarinet at the Cypress College, in music studios and privately throughout the Los Angeles and the Orange County areas. Currently, Dr. Figueiredo is an active freelancer in Los Angeles and a member of the OC/Los Angeles based Divan Consort ensemble and the Clap and Tap Woodwind Quintet.

Dr. Figueiredo is also an active writer, having written multiple music articles for Portuguese newspapers, and conducted research and writing about music for clarinet by Portuguese composers. As an outstanding clarinetist, Dr. Figueredo is also a member of Clap & Tap Woodwind quintet. She was invited by Mr. David Wen to join “The Virtuosi Angel Ensemble” for the concerts in 2010.

DOUBLE BASS - PROFESSOR YUNG-CHIAO WEI

”Bass players with great technique and supreme artistry are non-existent.  Well, there are a few exceptions: the legendary Gary Karr, of course, Eugene Levinson of the New York Philharmonic, and now Yung-Chiao Wei, a young, multi-talented female bassist from Taiwan” reads a recent New York Concert Review of Yung-Chiao Wei’s Carnegie Hall solo recital debut.  Yung-Chiao Wei was also praised by The Miami Herald as “a two sided-talent, a competition winning pianist turned double bass virtuoso”.  Through her musical insight, breathtaking virtuosity and personality, Wei combines compelling, artistic performances on the double bass with a magical presence in stage.

Currently a double bass professor at the Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, Wei is a recipient of numerous honors and awards.  Born in Taiwan, Wei began playing the piano at age six and the bass at age twelve.  She received her Master of Music degree with honors from the New England Conservatory in Boston and her Bachelor of Music degree with a Performance Certificate from the Eastman School of Music – the first bassist to be awarded such a certificate in twenty years.

Wei is the first Double Bass soloist who transcribed and performed the famous Chinese Violin Concerto “Butterfly Lovers” on a double bass.  Wei has produced a CD on Centaur Records, featuring her own transcription of the famous Chinese Violin Concerto “Butterfly Lovers” and Brahms Cello Sonata in E minor was released in June 2008.