Biography

Currently Principal Keyboard of Hong Kong Sinfonietta, Alan Chu has emerged as one of the most versatile and sought-after pianists in Hong Kong, performing extensively as soloist, collaborative artist and orchestral musician both locally and abroad. He also serves as part-time/adjunct lecturer at The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Baptist University, and TheEducation University of Hong Kong; an examiner of Hong Kong Arts Development Council; and a regular juror at several regional and national music competitions.

Alan Chu achieved early successes by winning major prizes in the Steinway & Sons International Youth Piano Competition, the Hong Kong (Asia) Piano Competition and the annual Hong Kong Schools Music Festival. During his years abroad, he was furthernamed the first prize winner at the North London Piano Competition and the runner-up at the Jaques Samuel Intercollegiate Piano Competition, being hailed as a pianist who possesses “formidable technique and real musicality” and “a very sensitive pianist… great pianistic flair and power”.

Graduated from Royal Academy of Music and Royal College of Music in London, Alan Chu obtained his Master of Music and Bachelor of Music with First Class Honours respectively. He was also awarded an Erasmus scholarship to study at Hochschule für Musik und Tanz Köln in Germany. He was the recipient of several coveted awards, most notably the ‘Very Highly Commended’honour for the prestigious RAM Lloyd Hartley Prize (for the best postgraduate final recital), Greta Parkinson Prize for his academic achievement, and recently an Associate of the Royal Academy of Music (ARAM) for his professional contribution.

Alan Chu has given frequent recitals and performances with local and international artists, making appearances in Hong Kong Arts Festival, Hong Kong International Chamber Music Festival, New Vision Arts Festival, RTHK Radio 4 programmes, “City Hall Virtuosi” series, among others. As soloist and artist-in-residence, he has been invited/re-invited to perform with various symphony orchestras, wind bands, and Chinese orchestras in Hong Kong. As a guest principal, he has also freelanced with Hungarian Symphony Orchestra, King’s College Choir Cambridge and Hong Kong Virtuosi, as well as participating in many world premieres and recordings with Hong Kong New Music Ensemble.