Taiwan conductor shines at Malko Competition

2015-05-05

An ROC national won the Malko Competition May 1 in Copenhagen, a triennial competition widely billed as the most prestigious honor for aspiring conductors in the world.

Taking on a 317-strong field, Chuang Tung-chieh from Taipei City in northern Taiwan collected 20,000 euros (US$22,390) for his efforts and the opportunity to be mentored by jury president Sakari Oramo until 2018.

Chuang also earned 27 bookings with leading orchestras in Europe, including event hosts Danish National Symphony Orchestra, Munich Philharmonic, Oslo Philharmonic and Stockholm Philharmonic.

“Words cannot describe how I feel right now,” Chuang said. “I have come first in the greatest competition of all. It’s incredible.”

Chuang and German co-finalists David Niemann and Jesko Sirvend conducted the first movement of Brahms Symphony One, Two and Four, respectively, as well as “Dance of the Cockerels” from Danish composer Carl Nielsen’s opera “Maskarade.”

Although Chuang admitted to feeling the pressure, he still had the energy to conduct the entire program without a score. “It was a risk but it turned out really well. I remembered everything. I just flowed with the music.”

Debuting aged 15 at Taipei City-based National Concert Hall, Chuang, 32, graduated from Germany’s University of Music Franz Liszt Weimar in 2013. He is also an alumnus of College-Conservatory of Music and Curtis Institute of Music in the U.S.

A third generation musician in his family, Chuang also found time to obtain a bachelor’s degree in statistics from Purdue University. “My experience of life is different, so I bring something special to the music,” he said.

Launched in 1965 to commemorate Russian conductor Nicolai Malko, the competition is co-organized by Danish Broadcast Corp. and Nordic Artists Management.

Source: Taiwan Today (http://taiwantoday.tw/ct.asp?xItem=229981&CtNode=413)