Susan Chan, Pianist, Mentor & Artistic Director
Celebrated pianist, mentor, and artistic director Susan Chan offers revelatory performances of “tremendous musicianship and technical mastery,” (Fanfare Magazine) providing the “invaluable service of opening up new musical worlds to her audience(s).” (New York Concert Review) Throughout her multifaceted career that includes performance on four continents, a highly acclaimed discography, teaching, directing, and outreach, Chan illuminates how heritage informs identity. Eloquent, communicative, and with “conspicuous refinement,” (BBC Music Magazine) Chan “fully reveal(s) the unique character of each piece of music and transmit(s) it straight to the hearts and souls of the audience.” (Portland Chinese Times) Born and raised in Hong Kong, Chan is a Si-Yo Artist™ and brings an inclusive, global-minded perspective to her work.
Chan’s performance career encompasses solo and chamber music appearances at such renowned venues as Carnegie’s Weill Recital Hall, Chopin’s birth house in Poland, and Hong Kong City Hall Concert Hall. Her acclaimed recital appearances include the Pianists of the World Series at St Martin-in-the-Fields in London, Dame Myra Hess Memorial Concert Series in Chicago, and the Seattle International Piano Festival Recital Series. She has appeared as soloist with the Dnepropetrovsk State Philharmonic (Ukraine), Hong Kong Sinfonietta, and Portland Columbia Symphony. Her honors and awards include an Individual Artist Fellowship and a Career Opportunity Grant from the Oregon Arts Commission, ‘Special Citation for Championing Piano Music by Asian Composers’ recognition in The American Prize Competition for which she performed commissioned works by Zhou Long and Chen Yi, and first prizes in the Hong Kong Young Musicians Award Competition, the Indianapolis Matinee Musicale Competition, and the Mozart Piano Concerto Competition at Indiana University.
Dr. Chan embraces not only the core piano literature, but also performs and advocates for contemporary repertoire, especially works by female composers and artists from the Pacific Rim. Her “great technical finesse” (BBC Music Magazine) lends itself to precise interpretation and clear communication, helping audiences connect with the music. Chan’s discography includes the “excellent and thought-provoking” (Fanfare Magazine) album Echoes of China: Contemporary Piano Music (Naxos, 2015) of which The Straits Times of Singapore wrote, “Chan is a persuasive colorist who brings a wide range of nuances from the keyboard, and this anthology deserves to be heard for its variety.” Additional releases include East West Encounter I and East West Encounter II (MSR Classics) which feature pieces by western and contemporary Asian composers. In this context, “Chan’s dynamic pianism is poetic, highly intense, and expressive, and her grand portrayal effectively captures the distinctive [Asian] atmosphere.” (Clavier Companion)
A master teacher whose students have won international competitions, Dr. Susan Chan serves as Professor of Piano and Piano Area Coordinator at Portland State University, and offers masterclasses worldwide. As in her own work, she encourages her students to explore their own backgrounds and fosters empowerment through deep authenticity. As the founder and director of the PSU Steinway Piano Series, Chan brings internationally recognized performers and educators to Portland and bridges the gap between world-class stages and the college classroom. Chan has been a guest artist at institutions including the Royal College of Music (London, UK) and the Bard College Conservatory of Music (New York), and has adjudicated for the Seattle International Piano Festival & Competition. She has presented at the EPTA International Conference, EPTA UK Conference, Music Teachers National Association Conference, College Music Society National Conference, World Piano Conference, as well as the Music Teachers’ Association of California Convention. Chan holds a Doctor of Music degree from Indiana University and bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Hong Kong. Her most influential mentors include György Sebök, Menahem Pressler and Eleanor Wong.
(susanchanpiano.com)
Biography by Aligned Artistry