Yu-hsuan Chang

Born in Taipei, Taiwan, Yu-hsuan (Vivian) started playing piano at the age of five and joined the school band playing the horn at nine. After winning several competitions with the band as section leader, Vivian decided to make music her career. Vivian attended the University of Taipei (UT) for her bachelor’s degree in music, where she received the scholarship for Excellent Teacher Education and graduated with the highest honor, Mayor’s Award. Vivian was also chosen as the only exchange student from the UT Department of Music for the 2014-15 academic year, studying at the University of Central Arkansas. She is currently a graduate assistant at Texas Tech University, pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts degree.

Vivian received her Master of Music degree from Wichita State University; during her time in Wichita, she also served as the second horn of the Wichita Symphony Orchestra in 2018 to 2020. Vivian has primarily studied with Christopher Smith, Dr. Jeb Wallace, Randy Gardner, Dr. Brent Shires, Ya-wen Lien, and Yi-chun Kathy Wang respectively. Vivian was fortunate to perform at masterclasses for many amazing teachers, including Elizabeth Freimuth, Jeff Nelsen, Audrey Good, Joachim Pöltl, Eli Epstein, and Julie Landsman. She studied with Erik Ralske, John Zirbel, and Stefan Dohr at the Aspen Music School and Festival in 2019.

As a soloist, Vivian has given six solo recitals and placed in several competitions, including two university concerto competitions where she performed as a soloist with the Conway Symphony Orchestra and Wichita State University Symphony Orchestra. She was a finalist of the Naftzger Young Artists Auditions and the Delta Symphony Orchestra Concerto Competition. Vivian also continues to appear as an orchestral musician with many professional orchestras and ensembles, including the Wichita Symphony Orchestra, Arkansas Symphony Orchestra, and Texarkana Symphony Orchestra. Vivian is actively involved in chamber music performances and competitions. She was the founding horn player of Haven Brass and Shocker Brass; Shocker Brass placed second prize at the Wolff-Bing Endowed Chamber Music Competition.