Alton Chung Ming Chan

Alton Chung Ming Chan 陳 忠 明 (Born: Hong Kong) Chinese-Canadian pianist, pedagogue, choral and orchestral conductor, author and editor.

Biography

Alton Chung Ming Chan, a Grammy Award nominee, has been termed “full of poetic imagination, fiery and uninhibited” by the Hong Kong New Evening Post, and he has been called “a pianist of brilliancy, temperament, and poetic sensitivity” by the Hong Kong Standard.After early piano studies with Mrs. Kek-tiang Lim and graduation from Cheung Sha Wan Catholic Secondary School in Hong Kong, Chan received much of his higher musical training in the United States where he earned his bachelor’s degree from Texas Lutheran University. Later, he earned his master’s degree in piano performance under Joseph Banowetz and a Ph.D. in music education, both from the University of North Texas, now the largest music school in the United States.

In 1983, Chan made his orchestral debut in Beijing over Chinese National Television and Radio with the People’s Republic of China’s Central Opera Orchestra. Since then, he has appeared as soloist and recitalist in concert halls in Asia, Europe and North America. He is also a Mason and Hamlin Artist. In 1991, Chan received The Young Outstanding Graduate Award from Texas Lutheran University for his achievements in the performing arts.

A much in demand scholar and expert on American piano pedagogy, Chan has appeared as a guest lecturer and performer at the Chinese National Conservatories of Chengdu, Guangzhou, Beijing, and Shenyang, the Hong Kong Baptist University, and at numerous piano music teacher associations, festivals and conferences in the United States and Europe.

Recently, he was invited to be the featured speaker for the 2002 annual conference of the Czech Republic’s Chapter of the European Piano Teachers Association. In addition to giving lectures and master classes, as well as premiering the piano transcription of the Adagio of Mahler’s "Tenth Symphony" by the Scottish composer Ronald Stevenson at Mahler’s birthplace in Jihlava, he also performed and lectured in various cities in the Czech Republic and Portugal during the summer of 2002.

Currently, Chan serves as the Director of Music Learning Unlimited, a private community music school in the Dallas Metroplex. He is also the Artistic Director of the Dallas Chinese Children’s Choir, and has served three years as the Musical Director for the Dallas Asian American Youth Orchestra.

Publications and Editions

Chan’s music reviews, articles, and research on piano pedagogy have been published in numerous American, Canadian and Hong Kong educational journals and newspapers. His recent publications for Warner Brothers Publications include a three-volume set of four-hand piano music with accompanying tutorial compact discs by Leopold Godowsky entitled "Miniatures", and two volumes of Chinese piano music by the Chinese-Canadian composer An-lun Huang.

Recordings

As a recording artist, Chan has made commercial compact discs for Marco Polo, a subsidiary label of Naxos, one of the largest recording companies in the world, and Warner Brothers. In the 50th Grammy Awards Ceremony, his and Joseph Banowetz’s four-hand piano recording of Balakirev’s "30 Songs of the Russian People" was nominated for the Best Chamber Music Award.

External links

1. Chinese-American International Piano Institute: http://www.caipianoinstitute.org/chan.html

2. Review of A Chinese Festival, Volume 1: http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m2493/is_3_52/ai_94932868

3. Award: http://www.tlu.edu/alumni__friends/tlu_awards_programs/tlu_awards_program_recipients

4. Grammy Nomination: http://www.grammy.com/GRAMMY_Awards/

5. Editions:
* http://www.alfred.com/alfredweb/front/SearchResult.aspx?keywords=alton%20chan

Recordings (external links)

* http://www.naxos.com/catalogue/item.asp?item_code=8.223475
* http://www.toccataclassics.com/cddetail.php?CN=TOCC0018

6. Reviews of Recording: http://www.toccataclassics.com/reviews.php?ID=26&PHPSESSID=3d1ccf296e55888e8c628eec727a5357