Hello and welcome to the world of classical music! Today, I am excited to be joined by the incredible pianist Gwhyneth Chen, who will share with us what it takes to perform and play concerts at a high level. In the first part of our interview, we will discuss her journey in music, including how she began playing the piano, her early education, and the dedication required to practice to be among the top. 

We will also talk about her most nerve-racking performance, the connection between music and health, including her work teaching piano to Alzheimer's patients to help prevent and alleviate symptoms, and her achievements, including winning cash prizes. Finally, we'll explore how her relationship with the piano has evolved and the importance of approaching each piece with a beginner's mindset.

Ms Gwhyneth Chen (陳毓襄) is a Taiwanese-American pianist who, in 1993, won the biggest cash prize in the history of piano competitions ($100,000.00.) Ms. Chen, then a young lady of 23, was the youngest contestant at the Ivo Pogorelich International Piano Competition. After the award, Mr. Pogorelich himself said of her talent, “She is too good to be true.” Immediately recognized as one of the foremost pianists of her generation, the victory was broadcast internationally on CNN television. In recent years, she has played joint concerts with Ivo Pogorelich in Switzerland and in Taiwan.

Born in Taiwan, Ms Chen emigrated to the United States with her family in 1980, where she continued her musical studies with Eduardo Delgado, Robert Turner, and Aube Tzerko. She received her Bachelor's and Master's of Music degrees from the Juilliard School. While in New York, her teachers were Martin Canin, Byron Janis, and Yin Cheng-Zong.

At the age of 12, she was the first prize winner of the 50-state National Piano Competition, sponsored by the Music Teacher’s National Association. Three years later, she won the National Competition again, setting a record by winning in both Junior High and the Senior High Competitions.

At the age of nineteen, she was a laureate in the 1990 Tchaikovsky International Piano Competition. In 1992, she was once again a laureate, this time in the Prokofieff International Piano Competition. She was the grand prize winner of the International Web Concert Audition Competition in 1999.

A leading Chinese musical figure, Gwhyneth Chen, was included in the 1995 edition of the One Hundred Most Successful Chinese People and appeared in a nationally televised gala concert at the Presidential Palace in the presence of President Lee of Taiwan. In 2002, she was invited to perform and speak in Washington DC during the First Lady Wu Shu-chen’s Peace Journey to the United States. In 2008, she performed at the inaugural festivities for the newly elected President of Taiwan, Ma Ying-jeou.

Ms. Chen represented her country with the Taipei Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Lu Shao-chia, as “the Pride of Taiwan” in the opening concert in the National Grand Theatre (“Steel Egg”) in Beijing, China, to celebrate the 2008 Olympics.

Ms. Chen’s CD on the Chimei label, “Gwhyneth Chen: Chopin Favorites,” celebrating Chopin’s 200th anniversary, won “Best Performance” in the Golden Melody Awards in 2011.