Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto

Tzu-Yi Chen, one of Taiwan’s promising talents and leading pianists of her generation, is currently enrolled with full scholarship in Columbus State University in Georgia, where she is becoming a Teaching Assistant in the piano department, studying with Alexander Kobrin. In 2009 and 2011 she obtained her MM degree of piano performance and “Solistexamen” – the highest diploma of piano performance under Prof. Michael Uhde in the National Kalrsurhe Music University in Germany, where she was a lectureship of piano as well. Year 2002 till 2006 Ms. Chen received the premiere prix from Paris CNSM, where she studied with Jacques Rouvier and Prisca Benoit.

Ms. Chen is the recipient of many awards, including the 1st prize of Atlanta Music Club Scholarship Competition (2012), the 4th prize at Darmstadt international Chopin competition in Germany(2009), the 1st prize at NTSO (National Taiwan Symphony Orchestra) Piano Competition (2007), the 1st prize at Fourth International Piano Competition of Mauro Paolo Monopoli Italy and 6th prize at the International Gina-Bachauer Piano Competition for Young Artists (2001).  2nd prize at the International Chopin Piano Competition of Taipei (2002) . and was a prize winner at the International Competition for Young Pianists in Ettlingen, Germany, Special Prizes in the Second European Chamber Music Competition in Karlsruhe Germany as well as in the Third International Tchaikovsky Competition for Young Artists, and the 1st prize of the Hwa-Shin Bank and Taipei Philharmonic Radio-Showcase Piano Competition.  Ms. Chen also performed at the Taiwan Presidential Palace as part of the 20th Musical Gala Celebration.  Highlights of the 2010-2012 season included the performances of Rachmaninoff Piano concerto No.3,with Taipei Symphony Orchestra and Rachmaninoff Rhapsody on a theme by Paganini together with Baden-Badener Philharmonie in Germany. And Performances in Darmstadt for “New Year’s Reception Concert” in the House of  Lords in front of 800 members of parliament, as well as recital in the Polish Embassy in Cologne, Germany.

Following the season 2012-2013 she is invited to play a series of recitals and concerto in Taiwan (Taipei, Tainan, Kaoshiung) and also in America (Atlanta, Newnan, Columbus, Auburn).

Colonel Hal J. Gibson, United States Army retired, is an internationally acclaimed musician and conductor with a professional background that spans more than a half a century.

For more than 30 years he was a military bandleader holding positions at the highest levels of the Army’s band program. These included assignments as bandleader at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, where he also conducted the highly acclaimed Cadet Glee Club; Commander and Conductor of the Army’s “showcase” Musical Ambassadors, the U.S. Army Field Band and Soldiers’ Chorus; and in 1974 he was selected from the bandleaders of all services to form and conduct The Armed Forces Bicentennial Band and Chorus which was the only military musical organization ever to have been comprised of members from all five U.S. uniformed services. During his long and distinguished career he has conducted in all 50 states and in 36 foreign countries.

Following his retirement from the Army he was appointed Director of Bands and Professor of Music at the Schwob School of Music of Columbus State University. He served there for 16 years and developed one of the finest wind ensembles of the southeast. Following his retirement he was voted to be Professor Emeritus by the Georgia Board of Regents, and is the only college band director from the state to have been so honored. In November of 2001 the rehearsal hall of the newly constructed world class RiverCenter (sic) for the Performing Arts of Columbus State University was dedicated and named for him.

In February of 2004 he was inducted into the National Hall of Fame for Distinguished Band Conductors. He is a national honorary member of Phi Beta Mu, the College Band Directors National Association, Kappa Kappa Psi, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, and is an elected member of the prestigious American Bandmasters Association. He is listed in the International Who’s Who of Music and serves on the boards of several important musical organizations. In May of 2011 he was awarded an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters Degree at the graduation ceremonies of Columbus State University. He and his wife Marie currently reside in Viera, Florida where he conducts the Symphonic Wind Ensemble of the Melbourne Municipal Band, and the Colony Singers of the Indian River Colony Club.