Derek Zhi Guang Chiu, piano b. July 24, 1977
Canadian pianist and piano pedagogue Derek Zhi Guang Chiu enjoys an active professional career. A three-time recipient of Steinway & Sons Top Piano Teacher Award in Calgary (2016, 2018 & 2020), he enjoys a successful international career as a performer, music educator, clinician, adjudicator and music consultant.
As a performer, Chiu has performed solo and chamber recitals throughout Canada, the United States, and Europe. He has collaborated with artists Roberto Cani (concert master of the LA Opera), David Lakirovich (assistant concert master of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra), Meghan Jacoby (principal flute Chamber Orchestra Symphony by the Seas) and Laszlo Mezo (renowned Hungarian cellist).
A leader in online music education, Chiu has presented online professional development workshops on remote music lessons to help music teachers make the transition from in person to online teaching during the Covid-19 pandemic. He has also consulted one on one with teachers to demonstrate online programs, resources and apps along with showcasing audio/visual hardware to enhance e-learning.
Chiu is a dedicated piano pedagogue who has lectured on the utilization of technology in the teaching studio, cognitive practice, aural skills development, sight reading, performance practices & traditions of composers, motivation in music study and memorization of music. Chiu has presented at the Colorado State Music Teachers’ Conference, The Colburn School, the University of Windsor, Lakehead University and Providence College to name a few. Chiu is also a clinician for the Royal Conservatory having presented workshops in Canada and The United States.
Chiu maintains a private studio in Calgary. Students who have studied and coached with him have earned scholarships to attend undergraduate and graduate music schools such as Florida Atlantic University, Longy School of Music, the Manhattan School of Music, Oberlin Conservatory, University of Western Ontario and the Conservatorio Scuola di Musica Franz Liszt (Weimar, Germany); have received gold medals from the Royal Conservatory; and are prize winners at local, national and international piano competitions. He is on the Faculty of the Cremona International Music Academy (Italy) and the Vancouver Island Music Academy. Chiu is a sought after master class clinician, ensemble coach and guest teacher.
His extensive training includes mentorship with notable Canadian teachers Dr. E. Gregory Butler and Joel Hastings at The University of Windsor. While in Windsor, Chiu had additional studies in piano pedagogy with Dr. Thomas Green, former Chief Examiner of the Royal Conservatory of Music. Under the guidance of Solomon Mikowsky (featured in Benjamin Saver’s book The Most Wanted Piano Teachers in the USA) and Donn-Alexandre Feder at the Manhattan School of Music in New York, Chiu graduated with a Master of Music degree in 2003. During his studies at the Manhattan School of Music, Chiu was mentored in chamber music by pianist Daniel Epstein of the Raphael Trio and Kenneth Cooper, one of the world’s foremost music specialists in the Baroque and Classical music. Chiu has performed in master classes for Janina Fialkowska, Robin Harrison, James Howsmon, Lorrin Hollander, Ramzi Yassa, Cecilio Tieles, and Jesus Angel Rodriquez.
The pieces on this program were selected because they have one thing in common – children. Please join me as I present Vincent Ho’s The Twelve Chinese Zodiac Animals Book 1. This program will also features a “new” work by W.A. Mozart! – Derek Chiu
This concert is the fifth in a series of five Piano Concerts during 2022 generously sponsored by:
