Percussionist I-Ju Chang

Taiwanese percussionist I-Ju Chang began her musical studies playing the piano at the age of 5, and took up percussion at 17. Before coming to the Unites States, Ms. Chang was the Timpanist of Taiwan Province Symphony Orchestra Wind Ensemble and freelanced regularly for the Taipei City Symphony Orchestra, Taiwan National Symphony Orchestra and the Taipei Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra. She was also a member of the Taipei Percussion Ensemble.

In 1997, Ms. Chang came to the United States to pursue her Masters degree at the Mannes College of Music in New York City. She graduated in 1999, earning the George and Elizabeth Gregory Award for Excellence in Performance. During this time, she was working with the Young Audience/New York performing group, who performed for New York City schoolchildren.

Ms. Chang is currently a DMA candidate at SUNY at Stony Brook with a full scholarship. She participates in the Stony Brook Contemporary Chamber Player program premiering contemporary music in Manhattan regularly. She has commissioned several marimba solo pieces and percussion duet. Ms. Chang has the distinction of being the first percussionist to win the concerto competition at Stony Brook. She had her debut concerto performance in 2001. She was invited by PAS to perform in Queens College on the NYC Percussion Day.

Ms. Chang joined CYCNY Percussion faculty in 2002 and is currently teaching in 7 schools around the metro Boston area. In 2005, Ms. Chang forms a new Marimba Duo in Boston. This new Duo will be focusing on an educational marimba program for preschool children.