Wei-Chen is a respected
marimba performer, and chamber, contemporary, and orchestral musician. Born in
1982 in Tainan City, Taiwan, percussionist Wei-Chen is currently based in Los
Angeles, CA and Shanghai, China. Wei-Chen began to study piano at age of five
and percussion at age of twelve. Wei-Chen’s recent marimba repertoire includes
music of J.S. Bach, Camille Saint-Saens, Francesco Tárrega, and Lyle Mays. His
passion for new music led him to form Hai-Dao Contemporary Ensemble. Wei-Chen
is currently a member of board committee of Taiwan Percussion Association, and
a member of Keyboard Committee of Percussive Arts Society. From September 2016,
Wei-Chen serves as a percussionist of Shanghai Symphony Orchestra.
Wei-Chen won First Prize
at the 2008 Classical Marimba League International Marimba Artist Competition,
and First Prize at the 2007 PAS International Percussion petition, Other awards
include: the Laureate of The First Classical Music International
Internet-Festival 2013 in Moscow Russia, the winner of 2013 Taiwan NTCH Young
Star Series, Silver Medal of 2012 Houston Symphony Ima Hogg Concerto
Competition, Third Prize of 2012 Atlantic Symphony Orchestra Concerto
Competition, Second Prize of the 2007 PASIC Marimba Solo Competition, and the
winner of 2007 Boston University Soloists’ Competition. Wei-Chen received the
Boston University Honors Award two times in 2008 and 2013. In 2014, Wei-Chen
was awarded the lifelong membership of the National Music Honor Society Pi
Kappa Lumbda. In 2017, Wei-Chen is awarded the Outstanding Alumni Award of
Taipei National University of the Arts.
As an active soloist,
Wei-Chen has appeared as concerto soloist with Taipei Philharmonic Youth
Orchestra (world premiere of "Zalan-Zalan" Concerto for Percussion
and Orchestra by Julie Spencer and Gernot Blume), Tainan Symphonic Band (world
premiere of "Mask" for two marimbas and symphonic band by Yiu-Kwong
Chung), The Concord Band (Marimba Concerto No.1 for marimba and wind
band), Houston Symphony (“Fantasy on
Japanese Wood Prints, Op.211" by Alan Hovhaness), Hong Kong Youth
Symphonic Band ("Prism Rhapsody" by Keiko Abe and "Concerto for
Marimba and Wind Band" by Dr. Yiu-Kwong Chung), and with Boston University
Symphony Orchestra ("Prism Rhapsody" by Keiko Abe). Wei-Chen has given
concerts and masterclasses in Taiwan, Australia, Peru, China, Macau, Hong Kong,
Japan, Italy, Singapore, Thailand, Russia, and United States. Wei-Chen was also
a jury member of the Taiwan Marimba Competition (2009, 2011), Taipei World
Percussion Championship (2013, 2014, 2015, 2016), Australian Marimba
Competition (2015, 2017), and 2016 Taiwan Percussion Association Youth
Percussion Competition.
Wei-Chen was a member of
Taipei Percussion from 2002 to 2006, performing more than 200 concerts
throughout Taiwan and Asia. His orchestral appearances include concerts with
the Taiwan Philharmonic, Taipei Symphony Orchestra, ALEA III, Boston Civic
Symphony, and The Macao Orchestra. He received a Tanglewood Music Center
fellowship in 2008. Wei-Chen has played orchestral under the baton of Long Yu,
James Levine, Sir Andrew Davis, Bernard Haitink, Oliver Knussen, Rafael
Frühbeck de Burgos, and André Previn. From 2010 to 2011, Wei-Chen served as the
first Timpanist of National Taiwan Symphony Orchestra in the Orchestra's
70-year orchestra history.
Wei-Chen received his
Bachelor of Arts from National University of Arts. He moved to the United
States in 2006. He received his Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts from
Boston University. In 2016, Wei-Chen received Artist Diploma as a marimba major
at The Boston Conservatory under the guidance of world-famous marimbist Nancy
Zeltsman.