A native of Taiwan, Pianist Ya-Ju Chuang has been awarded numerous prizes and scholarships in Taiwan and the United States. She was a National Finalist at The American Prize in Piano Performance(concerto)- The Lorin Hollander Award, first prize winner at the Golden Classical Music Awards, Brussels Grand Prize Virtuoso International Competition, American Protégé International Competition, and Tuesday Musical Association Scholarship Competition. She was also a top prize winner in the National Taiwan Piano Competition. Chuang’s performances have been featured on Traverse Symphony Orchestra’s Maestro Series, Great Lakes Chamber Orchestra’s Sunday Series, Alluvion Concert Series, Absolute Music Chamber Series, NPR’s “From the Top,” WKAR Public Media, and Interlochen Public Radio. Chuang is a Collaborative Pianist at Interlochen Arts Academy and Camp.
Hsin-Ju Yu is an active performer as a violin soloist, chamber musician, and orchestral musician. She has won many awards in international competitions, including first prize of the Golden Classical Music Awards international competition, the American Protégé International Competition, and the Grand Prize Virtuoso International Music Competition. Yu has performed across the US, including her solo debut at Carnegie Hall and national tours with the International Chamber Soloists. Additionally, she has performed in famous concert halls across Taiwan, Japan, and Italy. With her various solo and chamber music projects, Yu has been featured at such prestigious music festivals as the Texas Music Festival, and Summit Music Festival. As an educator, Yu participates in outreach concerts at various schools to introduce and promote classical music to the next generation. Yu is currently a contract violin member of Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra, Lansing Symphony Orchestra, and Traverse City Philharmonic.
Watch Ya-Ju Chuang and Hsin-Ju Yu perform Violin Sonata No. 3 in C minor, Op. 45, Mov. I by Grieg on the piano and violin for the 2025 Classical Music Competition as part of the Charleston International Music Competition.