About Sin-Hsing Tsai
Sin-Hsing Tsai’s piano career took off at age 8 when she was admitted to the prestigious government program for musically talented children in her hometown of Kaohsiung, Taiwan. Two years later she was named one of the Top 10 music students in her country.Her music was heard by audiences in Asia, Europe, North and South America. As a concert pianist, she was in demand from the Darius Milhaud Festival in Buenos Aires to the Patten Performances at UTC. Her resumé included world premieres of contemporary compositions, and she worked with composers in Taiwan, Russia, Germany, England, France, Cuba, Argentina and the U.S.
Sin-Hsing TsaiFor six years, Dr. Sin-Hsing Tsai organized a piano arts festival on the campus of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga designed to educate and encourage young, talented pianists.
Even while undergoing treatment for cancer last year, the concert pianist and music professor was planning her seventh festival, which the UTC Music Department will present in her memory Friday-Sunday, March 3-5. Tsai lost her life to cancer in November at age 45.
So in addition to the master class and performance opportunities Tsai's music festivals offered, this weekend will include an additional feature. A benefit concert in Tsai's memory will be presented Saturday night in the UTC Fine Arts Building to raise funds for the UTC piano program.
The concert will feature guest artist Chih-Long Hu, a friend and colleague of Tsai's, who is on the faculty of the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. According to Dr. Sigrid Luther, festival coordinator, Hu would visit Tsai in the California hospital where she underwent cancer treatment. To lift her spirits, the two would often play duets on the keyboard she kept in her hospital room.
Hu and Tsai presented a dual piano concert at UTC in fall 2013, then repeated that performance in February 2014 at East Tennessee State University, where Hu was on the faculty. Saturday night's benefit concert will include a slide show of photos submitted by friends and professional colleagues, sharing their memories of Tsai. Music from Hu and Tsai's 2013 performance will back the slide show, says Luther.
Hu's performance career was launched after receiving honors such as the Taipei National Concert Hall Arising Star, The Chi-Mei Artist Award and prizes from the Mauro Monopoli International Piano Competition in Italy, the Takamatsu International Piano Competition in Japan and San Jose International Piano Competition in California.
A native of Taiwan, he has performed in Asia, Europe, Canada, China and America as a soloist and chamber musician. His four albums have each received critical acclaim. He was appointed Sandra G. Powell Endowed Professor of Piano at UTK in fall 2016.
Contact Susan Pierce at spierce@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6284.
If you go
› What: Piano Arts Festival.› When: Friday- Sunday, March 3-5.› Where: UTC Fine Arts Center, 752 Vine St.› Admission: Free Friday and Sunday; $15 adults, $5 students Saturday.› Phone: 423-425-4601.› Website: www.utc.edu/music.SCHEDULEFriday, March 33 p.m. Collaborative and Piano Ensemble Masterclass. Dr. ChoEun Lee of Lee University will coach students in an eight-hand piano ensemble number as well as two accompanied vocal selections. Walk-ins welcome to masterclass. Parking available in Lot 10 across the street from the Fine Arts Center.7:30 p.m. UTC Music Faculty ConcertPerformances by faculty members Monte Coulter (marimba), with guest Monte Coulter IV (clarinet), plus Ronda Ford (flute), Eric Hanson (double bass), Rebecca St. Goar (mezzo-soprano), Jocelyn Sanders (horn), Clint Schmitt (saxophone), Nikolasa Tejero (clarinet), David and Gigi Walters (piano), Perry Ward (baritone), Kenyon Wilson (tuba), Sigrid Luther and Jenny Parker (piano). Guest pianist Alan Nichols will perform a composition by Jonathan McNair.Saturday, March 47:30 p.m. Benefit concert for the UTC Piano Program featuring guest artist Chih-Long Hu.This memorial concert for Dr. Sin-Hsing Tsai will include tributes from Dr. Stuart Benkert, interim head of the Department of Performing Arts; Kelsey Huffman, former student of Tsai; Nikolasa Tejero, friend and colleague; and Sung-Ho “Andy” Tsai, her brother.Sunday, March 53 p.m. Piano ExtravaganzaFour concert grand pianos will be onstage with pianists performing works for two, four, six and eight hands.UTC students and alumni performing were selected last year by Dr. Tsai for this event. Guest pianists Hsin-I Guo and Patrick Rice will perform a two-piano arrangement of “The Serpent’s Kiss.”