SHIH-HUI CHEN
Associate Professor of Composition and Theory

Diploma (1982), National Academy for the Arts M.M. (1985), Northern Illinois University D. M. A. (1993) Boston University 1603 Alice Pratt Brown Hall 713-348-3742 shihhui@rice.edu

http://www.trigonmusic.com

As the recipient of a 2007 American Academy of Arts and Letters Goddard Lieberson Fellowship, a Koussevitzky Music Foundation Commission, a Guggenheim Fellowship, and an American Academy in Rome Prize, the music of Shih-Hui Chen has received significant recognition in recent years. A performance of Twice Removed at Lincoln Center was described by the New York Times as "...ruminative and involving, drawing the listener in through a process of gradual thematic metamorphosis." String Quartet No. 3, premiered by the Arditti Quartet at the Tanglewood Music Festival, was praised by The Boston Globe as having "... a sureness of step and gentleness of spirit that are very winning." In 66 Times, the Cleveland Plain Dealer finds a sensitive text setting which "... abounds in arching vocal lines, harmony that sits on the precipice of tonality, and richly hued atmospheres that depict the various seasons." This work has also been analyzed by German ethnomusicologist Barbara Mittler for the Asian Music Journal CHIME, who also has written an entry about Ms. Chen in the New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians.

Born in Taiwan, Shih-Hui Chen has lived in the United States since 1982. Her compositions have been performed widely throughout the United States and abroad including China, Taiwan, Korea, Japan, Singapore, England, Germany, and Italy. Chen’s work has brought her into contact with many orchestras including the Philadelphia Orchestra, Cleveland Orchestra, Boston Modern Orchestra Project, and Utah Symphony. Her chamber music has been presented by the Empyrean Ensemble, Chiara String Quartet, Boston Musica Viva, Da Camera of Houston, Pittsburgh New Music Ensemble, Network for New Music, Seattle Chamber Players, and the Freon Ensemble in Rome.

Shih-Hui Chen currently serves on the faculty at the Shepherd School of Music, Rice University where she teaches composition. Recent performances include Mei Hua for String Quartet, performed by the Formosa Quartet in their UK tour, Lincoln Center and the Library of Congress; and Fu II by eighth blackbird with Yang Wei and Cliff Colnot on the University of Chicago’s Contempo Series at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago.

DOWNLOAD HIGH RESOLUTION PHOTO #1
DOWNLOAD HIGH RESOLUTION PHOTO #2