Tchaikovsky Piano Competition Silver Medalist Conrad Tao to Visit Taiwan for Solo Recital
Conrad Tao, the silver medalist of the 2015 Tchaikovsky International Piano Competition, is set to hold solo recitals in Taiwan. With dual degrees in English from Harvard University and music from the New England Conservatory, Tao is recognized globally for his profound humanistic foundation and exceptional musical technique, attracting significant attention in the music world.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: May 13, 2026 at 21:51
- 🔍 Collected: May 13, 2026 at 22:02 (11 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 14, 2026 at 01:00 (2h 57m after Collected)
Central News Agency
(Central News Agency reporter Chao Ching-yu, Taipei, May 13) Conrad Tao, silver medalist of the 2015 Tchaikovsky International Piano Competition, is coming to Taiwan for solo recitals. He holds dual degrees in English from Harvard University and from the New England Conservatory, possessing both a deep humanistic foundation and strong musical technique, making him a focus of global music circles.
Born in the United States in 1995, Conrad Tao began playing piano at age 4 and made his stage debut at age 10. In 2011, at age 15, Tao was invited to perform at the White House for a state dinner for then-German Chancellor Angela Merkel, becoming another Chinese-American musician, after cellist Yo-Yo Ma and pianist Lang Lang, to be invited to perform at a White House state dinner.
In 2015, Conrad Tao won the silver medal at the Tchaikovsky International Piano Competition and was awarded the prestigious Avery Fisher Career Grant in the American music scene. He has established his international standing with astonishing technique, a keen sense of tone color, and mature musicality.
According to news materials released by Peng Bo Art, Conrad Tao believes that music is never just a display of technique. "When I was younger, I focused excessively on playing faster and more accurately; but as I grew older, I began to think about what music truly wants to say," he stated. "I believe what's truly important is not virtuosity, but how to establish an emotional connection with the audience through sound."
Conrad Tao explained that his literary background from his English degree at Harvard University made him deeply aware that the rhythm of language, character personalities, and dramatic tension in literature are all closely related to musical interpretation. "A melody is not just a melody; it's like an unspoken monologue; changes in timbre are not just techniques; they're like the flow of light, air, and emotion."
This visit to Taiwan will open with Schumann's "Arabeske," followed by "Davidsbündlertänze," which expresses Schumann's inner impulses and contemplations, passion and melancholy—a major challenge for any performer. Debussy's "Images," with its world of light and shadow, is hailed as an important milestone in piano timbre art, where Debussy, through layered harmonies and colors, makes the piano seem like a canvas capable of depicting water surfaces, light, and air.
The concert will conclude with Chopin's "Piano Sonata No. 3," considered one of Chopin's grandest and most mature piano works, combining symphonic structure with high poeticism, always finding a vivid tension between beauty and power.
Conrad Tao's piano recitals will be held on May 21st at the National Concert Hall in Taipei, May 22nd at the Weiwuying National Kaohsiung Center for the Arts, and May 23rd at the National Taichung Theater. (Editor: Chen Ching-fang) 1150513
Choose to stand with facts; your every sponsorship is a force guarding press freedom.
Download the Central News Agency 'First-hand News' APP to stay updated with the latest news.
Without authorization, the text, images, and audio/video on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, publicly transmitted, or utilized.
(Central News Agency reporter Chao Ching-yu, Taipei, May 13) Conrad Tao, silver medalist of the 2015 Tchaikovsky International Piano Competition, is coming to Taiwan for solo recitals. He holds dual degrees in English from Harvard University and from the New England Conservatory, possessing both a deep humanistic foundation and strong musical technique, making him a focus of global music circles.
Born in the United States in 1995, Conrad Tao began playing piano at age 4 and made his stage debut at age 10. In 2011, at age 15, Tao was invited to perform at the White House for a state dinner for then-German Chancellor Angela Merkel, becoming another Chinese-American musician, after cellist Yo-Yo Ma and pianist Lang Lang, to be invited to perform at a White House state dinner.
In 2015, Conrad Tao won the silver medal at the Tchaikovsky International Piano Competition and was awarded the prestigious Avery Fisher Career Grant in the American music scene. He has established his international standing with astonishing technique, a keen sense of tone color, and mature musicality.
According to news materials released by Peng Bo Art, Conrad Tao believes that music is never just a display of technique. "When I was younger, I focused excessively on playing faster and more accurately; but as I grew older, I began to think about what music truly wants to say," he stated. "I believe what's truly important is not virtuosity, but how to establish an emotional connection with the audience through sound."
Conrad Tao explained that his literary background from his English degree at Harvard University made him deeply aware that the rhythm of language, character personalities, and dramatic tension in literature are all closely related to musical interpretation. "A melody is not just a melody; it's like an unspoken monologue; changes in timbre are not just techniques; they're like the flow of light, air, and emotion."
This visit to Taiwan will open with Schumann's "Arabeske," followed by "Davidsbündlertänze," which expresses Schumann's inner impulses and contemplations, passion and melancholy—a major challenge for any performer. Debussy's "Images," with its world of light and shadow, is hailed as an important milestone in piano timbre art, where Debussy, through layered harmonies and colors, makes the piano seem like a canvas capable of depicting water surfaces, light, and air.
The concert will conclude with Chopin's "Piano Sonata No. 3," considered one of Chopin's grandest and most mature piano works, combining symphonic structure with high poeticism, always finding a vivid tension between beauty and power.
Conrad Tao's piano recitals will be held on May 21st at the National Concert Hall in Taipei, May 22nd at the Weiwuying National Kaohsiung Center for the Arts, and May 23rd at the National Taichung Theater. (Editor: Chen Ching-fang) 1150513
Choose to stand with facts; your every sponsorship is a force guarding press freedom.
Download the Central News Agency 'First-hand News' APP to stay updated with the latest news.
Without authorization, the text, images, and audio/video on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, publicly transmitted, or utilized.