Stella Cheng
Piano

As the winner of 2007 Rutgers Concerto Competition, Ms. Stella Chia-Shan Cheng has actively participated in numerous performances as a soloist, chamber musician and collaborative pianist. She made her orchestral debuts as a teenager in her native Taiwan performing Saint Saens’s the Carnival of Animals and Mendelssohn’s Piano Concerto No. 1. Mr. Cheng’s recent performances include participation of Grieg Centennial Extravaganza at Steinway Hall in New York and collaboration with the Trenton Children’s Choir at National Cathedral in Washington DC.

Ms. Cheng received both her Bachelor and Master of Music degrees in piano performance from the prestigious Taipei National University of the Arts in Taiwan. She has performed in master classes of John Perry, Oxana Yablonskaya, and Robert Shannon. In 2005, she was awarded a full-scholarship from the Taiwanese government to pursue further studies at the Manhattan School of Music where she completed her Professional Studies with Dr. Arkady Aronov. She has also studied organ with Antonius Bittmann. Currently, Ms. Cheng is pursuing her Doctor of Musical Arts degree at Mason Gross School of the Arts as a student of Min Kwon.

Besides her studying and performances, teaching has always been an important part of Ms. Cheng’s career. As a dedicated teacher, she has over 8 years of experience teaching students of all ages and levels. Before coming to the United States, Ms. Cheng maintained a busy private studio and taught in local high schools in her hometown of Chunghwa, Taiwan. Currently at Rutgers University, she serves as a member of piano faculty at the Rutgers Community Music Program. Ms. Cheng is also a teaching assistant at Mason Gross School of the Arts.

Ms. Cheng has extensive experience teaching students of all ages and skill levels. Her teaching objective is to inspire students' musical and artistic capabilities through piano playing. She not only teaches piano playing skills, but also combines ear training, aural skills, music history and theory in her teaching. Ms. Cheng believes that music is one of the most beautiful creations in the world; everyone should learn how to appreciate and enjoy music.