Shih-Po Cheng

Shih-Po Cheng, born in 1991 from Hsin Chu, Taiwan. Started learning playing the piano at the age of 11 with Yue-Ling Huang and Ying-Li Chen. Played tenor saxophone in high school and became the concert band leader in the second semester of his freshman year. At 2008, he left home and went to Idyllwild Arts Academy to continue studying piano with professor Nelms McKelvain. During the studies at Idyllwild Arts Academy, he was a frequent performer in Music in the Meadow and Piano Festival which are two major music festivals that are held during the school year. In 2009 and 2010, Shih-Po gave a recital in each years summer. After graduating from Idyllwild Arts Academy, he entered Cornish College of the Arts in Seattle and is currently studying piano performance with Dr. Peter Mack. Shih-Po has also been frequently performing solo piano and in chamber groups through out music festival such as Scores of Sound and many new music premiers. In 2010, Shih-Po played in the MTNA (Music Teachers National Association) Competition chamber division and won 3rd place. In the May of 2012, Shih-Po won the first prize in Seattle International Piano Festival. On August 18th 2012, Shih-Po gave his very first recital in his home town Hsin Chu.