Pianist Susan Chan to perform free recital of music by JS Bach, Chen Yi, Tan Dun, and Zhou Long

Pianist Susan Chan, who teaches at Portland State, will present a free piano recital at Lincoln Recital Hall (Rm. 75) on Thursday, October 31st at noon. Chan's performance includes the world premiere of Chen Yi's "Northern Scenes." Part of the program will be recorded and released on CD next year.

Here is the program and more details from the press release:

Program: Bach/Bauer: Die Seele ruht in Jesu Händen
Bach/Petri: Sheep May Safely Graze
Bach/Busoni: Nun komm’ der Heiden Heiland
Bach/Kempff: Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring
Bach/Kempff: Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme
Tan Dun: Eight Memories in Watercolor (selections)
Zhou Long: Pianobells
Chen Yi: Northern Scenes (World Premiere)

“A thoughtful musician and sensitive player” – New York Concert Review

“An energetic advocate for contemporary music” – The New Yorker

Concert pianist Susan Chan is an active advocate for music from Asia and that written by women composers. This October 31st recital, featuring works by Bach and three prominent contemporary Chinese composers, is the culmination of a double commissioning project funded and supported by a Regional Arts & Culture Council Project Grant, an Oregon Arts Commission Career Opportunity Grant, the PSU Foundation, the PSU Institute for Asian Studies, the Confucius Institute at PSU, and individual donors.

The Eastern portion of the program features works by three internationally renowned Chinese-American composers, including the world premiere of Chen Yi’s commissioned piece Northern Scenes, Zhou Long’s commissioned piece Pianobells from 2012, and selections of Tan Dun’s works. These prize-winning composers share the common thread of embracing a blend of Chinese and western traditions and transcending cultural and musical boundaries. The numerous accolades they have received include the Charles Ives Living Award from the American Academy of Arts and Letters, Pulitzer Prize in Music, and Academy Award. These Chinese works are complemented by the Western portion of the program that consists of a set of transcriptions of five numbers from various cantatas by JS Bach.

Ms. Chan holds a Doctor of Music degree from Indiana University and MPhil and BA degrees from the University of Hong Kong. Her major piano teachers include György Sebök and Menahem Pressler. She is currently an Associate Professor of Music and Piano Area Co-Coordinator at Portland State University. She performs internationally, including performances at Weill Recital Hall in Carnegie Hall, New York; Cultural Center in Chicago (Dame Myra Hess Memorial Concert Series); Seattle International Piano Festival Recital Series; Chopin’s birth house in Zelazowa Wola, Poland; Steinway Halls in London and Tokyo; as well as the Hong Kong City Hall Concert Hall. The numerous prizes Ms. Chan has received in competitions include first prize in the Hong Kong Young Musicians Award Competition. Her critically acclaimed CD discography includes her latest recordings East West Encounter I and East West Encounter II on the MSR Classics label, which feature pieces by western and contemporary Asian composers. Fanfare magazine and BBC Music Magazine praised her “great technical finesse” and “conspicuous refinement.” Ms. Chan will record part of this program for CD release next year.