ROSE CHEN
 Pianist Rose Chen was born and raised in Taipei, Taiwan, where she attended schools specializing in music since the age of 6. Vigorous music training including music theory, history, ear training, singing, and 2-3 instruments were required in addition to the general academic coursework throughout her schooling in Taiwan.
Rose won first prize in the Kawaii Piano Competition for young Artists, and was then invited to perform in the National Concert Hall of Taiwan in 1994, at age 12. Other awards in her native Taiwan include first prize in the Taipei Piano Competition, second prize in the Yamaha Piano Competition for Young Artists, and third prize in the National Taiwan Piano Competition.
   
Packing all her music, recordings, and a heart longing to explore; 17 year-old Rose moved from Taiwan to the United States by herself in 1997. She first landed in Boston, studying piano at the New England Conservatory with Patricia Zander for four years. Then she moved to California in 2001, studying with Mack McCray at the San Francisco Conservatory. Rose feels very lucky to have met these two teachers who had important influences on her musicality and aspects of life. And because of them, Rose found the true treasure of music and has since pursued a musical life with passion and dedication. During the first six years of her American journey, not only did she perform in concert halls, but also provided music for hospitals, nursing homes, churches, and restaurants.
     
Driven by a very curious and adventurous heart, Rose moved again to Los Angeles in 2003. Here she was accepted into the prestigious USC Thornton School of Music with full scholarship to pursue a Doctoral Degree in music. Rose’s third piano teacher in US, famed Canadian pianist Kevin Fitz-Gerald greatly inspired her with his keen and fresh music conceptions and led her into the world of chamber music for which a affinity has grown in her. Rose’s piano trio (Blue Rose Trio) had won Coleman, MTNA, and Peninsula chamber music competitions; and concretized in Brazil, France, China, Israel, Alaska, and through California. Rose also had appeared in master classes with Goto Midori, Lowell Liebermann, Gilbert Kalish, Eroica Trio, Takacs Quartet, and Julliard Quartet.
     
Having lived in and traveled to numerous regions in the world, Rose’s vision of music is also deep and wide. As much as her exploration in different cultures, she has taken up research in Asian and Middle Eastern music. Jazz has also become one of her biggest interests. Chamber music to Rose has remained the most natural and effective means of expressing herself and bringing the joy of music-making to people everywhere.