# Rachel Cheung

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{{Short description|Hong Kong pianist}}
{{Unreliable sources|date=April 2021}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name              = Rachel Cheung
| image             = Rachelcheungpianistheadshot (cropped).jpg
| image_size        = 
| landscape         = <!-- yes, if wide image, otherwise leave blank -->
| alt               = 
| caption           = Cheung in 2024
| background        = non_vocal_instrumentalist
| birth_name        = Cheung Wai-Ching
| native_name       = 張緯晴
| native_name_lang  = zho
| alias             = 
| birth_date        = {{Birth date and age|1991|9|27}}
| birth_place       = [Hong Kong](/source/Hong_Kong)
| origin            = 
| death_date        = <!-- {{death date and age|YYYY|MM|DD|YYYY|MM|DD}} (death date 1st) -->
| death_place       = 
| genre             = [Classical](/source/Classical_music)
| occupation        = [Pianist](/source/Pianist)
| instrument        = [Piano](/source/Piano)
| years_active      = 2004–present
| label             = The Alpha Omega Sound, VAI Music
| associated_acts   = 
| website           = {{URL|rachelcheung.com}}
}}

{{Infobox Chinese
| t = 張緯晴
| s = 张纬晴
| p = Zhāng Wěi Qíng
| w = Chang<sup>1</sup> Wei<sup>3</sup> Ch'ing<sup>2</sup>
| poj = 
| j = Zoeng<sup>1</sup> Wai<sup>5</sup> Cing<sup>4</sup>
}}

'''Rachel Wai-Ching Cheung''' ({{lang-zh|t=張緯晴|j=Zoeng<sup>1</sup> Wai<sup>5</sup> Cing<sup>4</sup>}}; born September 27, 1991) is a classical [pianist](/source/pianist) from [Hong Kong](/source/Hong_Kong).<ref name="The Fryderyk Chopin Institute - Wai-Ching Rachel Cheung">{{cite web|title=Persons Related to Chopin - Wai-Ching Rachel Cheung|url=http://en.chopin.nifc.pl/chopin/persons/detail/bio/yes/page/4/id/7311|website=The Fryderyk Chopin Institute|publisher=Narodowy Instytut Fryderyka Chopina|access-date=8 September 2015|archive-date=15 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180615083227/http://en.chopin.nifc.pl/chopin/persons/detail/bio/yes/page/4/id/7311|url-status=dead}}</ref> She has won numerous prizes and awards in Hong Kong and overseas, and performs regularly in [Asia](/source/Asia), [Europe](/source/Europe), and [North America](/source/North_America).<ref name="Guandong">{{Cite web|url=http://www.newsgd.com/culture/art/200407200013.htm|title=A little maestro amazes SZ music lovers|access-date=2007-04-24|publisher=News Guandong|year=2004}}</ref><ref name="Liang">{{Cite web|url=http://www.inkpot.com/concert/rachelcheung.html|title=Rachel Cheung Piano Recital 14/12/06 - The Love of Music Festival|access-date=2007-08-03|publisher=The Flying Inkpot|year=2006|author=Chang Tou Liang|work=Concert Review }}</ref>

==Early life and education==
Cheung comes from a musical family. Her father, a piano teacher, gave her first [piano](/source/piano) lessons at age four.<ref name="SCMP Keys to my success">{{cite news|last1=Olluver|first1=Sam|title=Keys to my success|url=https://www.scmp.com/article/1006178/keys-my-success|access-date=6 September 2015|work=South China Morning Post|issue=International Edition|publisher=South China Morning Post Publishers Limited|date=July 8, 2012}}</ref> At age ten, she was admitted to [The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts](/source/The_Hong_Kong_Academy_for_Performing_Arts) (HKAPA) as a junior student studying under Professor [Eleanor Wong](/source/Eleanor_Wong_(musician)), Artist-in-Residence and Senior Lecturer in Keyboard.<ref name="Guandong" /> She also attended secondary school at the [Maryknoll Convent School](/source/Maryknoll_Convent_School).<ref name="SCMP Keys to my success" /> For college, she continued studies at HKAPA with Professor Wong and obtained her [Bachelor of Music](/source/Bachelor_of_Music) degree in Piano Performance with First Class Honours in June 2011 on a full scholarship from the Robert H.N. Ho Family Foundation.<ref>{{cite web|title=People > Alumni > Graduates > School of Music > 2011|url=http://www.hkapa.edu/graduate/music/2011/|website=The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts|access-date=6 September 2015|archive-date=14 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210814031029/https://www.hkapa.edu/graduate/music/2011/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In September 2011, Cheung began studies overseas with Professor [Peter Frankl](/source/Peter_Frankl) at the [Yale School of Music](/source/Yale_School_of_Music) in the USA on full scholarships from Yale and the [Hong Kong Jockey Club](/source/Hong_Kong_Jockey_Club) Music and Dance Fund Scholarship.<ref name="HKAPA July 2012 News">{{cite news|title=No place like the Academy - Music graduate Rachel Cheung Wai-ching|url=https://www.hkapa.edu/f/page/5898/07news12.pdf|access-date=6 September 2015|work=The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts News|issue=7 2012|date=July 2012}}</ref> She was awarded the Elizabeth Parisot Prize with Larry Weng for outstanding pianists at the Yale School of Music during school year 2011–2012.<ref name="Yale School of Music 2012 Prize Winners">{{cite web|title=Congratulations to the 2012 Prize Winners|url=http://music.yale.edu/2012/04/30/congratulations-to-the-2012-prize-winners/|website=Yale School of Music|access-date=6 September 2015}}</ref> On May 20, 2013 Cheung was conferred the [Master of Music](/source/Master_of_Music) degree in piano at Yale School of Music's 120th Commencement.<ref name="Yale School of Music 2013 Commencement">{{cite journal|title=One Hundred Twentieth Commencement|journal=The School of Music Yale University|date=May 20, 2013|volume=120|page=4|url=http://issuu.com/yalemusic/docs/2013commencement|access-date=6 September 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|title=School of Music 2013–2014|journal=Bulletin of Yale University|date=July 25, 2013|volume=Series 109|issue= 8|page=139|url=http://www.yale.edu/printer/bulletin/archivepdffiles/Music/Music_2013-2014.pdf|access-date=7 September 2015}}</ref>

==Awards==

===Junior competitions===
In 2001 Cheung won First Prize in the Hong Kong regional competition of the [Steinway and Sons](/source/Steinway_%26_Sons) International Youth Piano Competition. At her first competition in Europe, she claimed First Prize at the 2002 [Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod](/source/Llangollen_International_Musical_Eisteddfod) for Western Instrumental Group under 15 in [Wales](/source/Wales).  In May 2003, Cheung won First Prize in the Junior Group (under age 15) at the “5th Biennial [International Competition for Young Pianists in Memory of Vladimir Horowitz](/source/International_Competition_for_Young_Pianists_in_Memory_of_Vladimir_Horowitz)” in [Ukraine](/source/Ukraine). Besides winning the Gold Medal, she was awarded three special prizes from the jury: Most Outstanding Concerto Performance, Best Performance of Romantic Period Pieces, and Youngest Participant of the Competition. Also in 2003, Cheung was awarded First Prize in the Piano Solo division and First Prize in the Piano Concerto under Age 18 division at the 55th Hong Kong School Music Festival.<ref>{{cite web|title=Music Achievements 2002–2003|url=http://www.mcsps.edu.hk/achievement02-03/Music.htm|website=Maryknoll Convent School (Primary Section)|publisher=Maryknoll Convent School|access-date=7 September 2015}}</ref> In June 2004, she won First Prize and a Peer Jury Prize for the most popular finalist at the 2004 [Gina Bachauer International Junior Piano Competition](/source/Gina_Bachauer_International_Piano_Competition) in Salt Lake City, Utah.

===Senior competitions===
In 2008, Cheung won second prize at the [Alessandro Casagrande](/source/Alessandro_Casagrande) International Piano Competition in [Terni](/source/Terni), Italy.<ref name="Guandong"/> In September 2009, she won fifth prize at the [Leeds International Pianoforte Competition](/source/Leeds_International_Pianoforte_Competition), the best result a Hong Kong pianist has achieved in this prestigious competition. She was also a semi-finalist at the [XVI International Chopin Piano Competition](/source/XVI_International_Chopin_Piano_Competition) in Warsaw in October 2010. In November 2012, Cheung was awarded the George Leibenson Special Prize at the 67th [Geneva International Music Competition](/source/Geneva_International_Music_Competition) in Piano.<ref>{{cite web|title=Archives - 2012 - piano|url=http://www.concoursgeneve.ch/sections/archives?a=collapse46|website=Geneva International Music Competition|access-date=8 September 2015}}</ref>

In 2017, Cheung was a finalist and won the Audience Award in the [Fifteenth Van Cliburn International Piano Competition](/source/Fifteenth_Van_Cliburn_International_Piano_Competition) in Fort Worth, Texas.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cliburn.org/2017-cliburn-competition/2017-competition-prizes/|title=2017 Competition Prizes – The Cliburn|website=www.cliburn.org|language=en-US|access-date=2018-11-16}}</ref> ''The Dallas Morning News'' called her “a poet, but also a dramatist,” displaying “the most sophisticated and compelling music-making.”<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.dallasnews.com/arts/classical-music/2017/06/04/two-different-piano-recitals-sunday-afternoon-cliburn|title=Two very different piano recitals Sunday afternoon at the Cliburn|date=2017-06-04|work=Dallas News|access-date=2018-11-16|language=en}}</ref>

==Career==

===2005===
On April 14, 2005, 13-year-old Cheung performed an extraordinary program to thunderous applause, cheers, and whistles at the 2005 Miami International Piano Festival at the [Broward Center for the Performing Arts](/source/Broward_Center_for_the_Performing_Arts) in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. She performed Bach's [''Chromatic Fantasy and Fugue in D minor''](/source/Chromatic_Fantasia_and_Fugue), Haydn's [''Piano Sonata in E-flat major''](/source/Piano_Sonata_Hob._XVI%2F52), Liszt's [''Étude in F minor, La leggierezza''](/source/Three_Concert_%C3%89tudes), ''[Au bord d'une source](/source/Au_bord_d'une_source)'' (S.156, No. 2b), and [''Étude No. 5 in E major, La chasse''](/source/Grandes_%C3%A9tudes_de_Paganini), Chopin's [''Variations brilliantes in B-flat major''](/source/Miscellaneous_compositions_(Chopin)), Faure's [''Nocturne No. 1 in E-flat minor'', ''Barcarolle No. 4 in A-flat major'', and ''Impromptu No. 2 in F minor''](/source/Piano_music_of_Gabriel_Faur%C3%A9), and Prokofiev's [''Suggestion diabolique, Op. 4, No. 4''](/source/List_of_compositions_by_Sergei_Prokofiev) and [Piano Sonata No. 3 in A minor, Op. 28](/source/Piano_Sonata_No._3_(Prokofiev)). When it was over, the audience presented Cheung with seven bouquets and a stuffed lamb.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Goldberg Longstreth|first1=Peg|title=Review: 13-year-old pianist well-worth the drive to other coast|url=http://www.miamipianofest.com/press/pr2005_cheung_naplesdailynews.html|website=Miami International Piano Festival|access-date=8 September 2015}}</ref>

===2006===
On December 14, 2006 Cheung played a solo recital at [Hong Kong City Hall](/source/Hong_Kong_City_Hall) Concert Hall at The Joy of Music Festival organized by the Chopin Society of Hong Kong. Her programme included Mozart's [Fantasy No. 2 in C minor, K. 396/385f](/source/Fantasia_No._2_(Mozart)) and [Piano Sonata No. 18 in D major, K. 576](/source/Piano_Sonata_No._18_(Mozart)); Liszt's [Bénédiction de Dieu dans la solitude](/source/Harmonies_po%C3%A9tiques_et_religieuses) and [Two Concert Studies](/source/Two_Concert_%C3%89tudes_(Liszt)); Schubert's [Three Piano Pieces, D. 946](/source/Impromptus_(Schubert)); Chopin's [Four Mazurkas, Op. 24](/source/Mazurkas%2C_Op._24_(Chopin)) and [Ballade in F minor, Op. 52, No. 4](/source/Ballades_(Chopin)) and Poulenc's ''Trois pièces'', [FP 48](/source/FP_(Poulenc)).<ref>{{cite news|last1=Kwong|first1=Kevin|title=The Joy of Music|url=https://www.scmp.com/article/575310/joy-music|access-date=8 September 2015|work=South China Morning Post (International Edition)|publisher=South China Morning Post Publishers Limited|date=December 14, 2006}}</ref>

===2007===
On July 15, 2007, 15-year-old Cheung opened the 2007 [Golandsky Institute](/source/Golandsky_Institute) International Piano Festival by performing works by Chopin, Copland, Mozart, and Schumann at Taplin Auditorium in Fine Hall at [Princeton University](/source/Princeton_University), New Jersey.<ref>{{cite web|title=2007 International Piano Festival|url=http://www.golandskyinstitute.org/symposium/archive/2007-summer-symposium#internationalpianofestival|website=The Golandsky Institute|access-date=7 September 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=In the Region - New Jersey Calendar of Events|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/08/nyregion/nyregionspecial2/08listingsnj.html?pagewanted=2|access-date=7 September 2015|work=The New York Times|date=July 8, 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Finane|first1=Ben|title=Realizing Bach's ultimate power|url=http://blog.nj.com/ledgerentertainment/2007/07/realizing_bachs_ultimate_power.html|website=NJ.com|date=12 July 2007 |publisher=New Jersey On-Line LLC|access-date=7 September 2015}}</ref> On September 8, 2007, 15-year-old Cheung performed [Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 3](/source/Piano_Concerto_No._3_(Beethoven)) with the [Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra](/source/Hong_Kong_Philharmonic_Orchestra) conducted by [Edo de Waart](/source/Edo_de_Waart) at [Hong Kong City Hall Concert Hall](/source/Hong_Kong_City_Hall).<ref>{{cite web |title=Beethoven + 5 Pianists |url=https://www.hkphil.org/concert/beethoven-5-pianists |website=HK Phil |publisher=The Hong Kong Philharmonic Society Limited |access-date=16 December 2022}}</ref>

===2012===
On February 25, 2012 Cheung performed [Johannes Brahms’s Six Pieces, Op. 118](/source/Six_Pieces_for_Piano%2C_Op._118_(Brahms)) as part of The Kennedy Center's Conservatory Project featuring Yale School of Music students on The Millennium Stage at the [John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts](/source/John_F._Kennedy_Center_for_the_Performing_Arts) in Washington, DC.<ref>{{cite web|title=YSM students participate in the Kennedy Center's Conservatory Project 2012|url=http://music.yale.edu/2012/02/14/ysm-students-participate-in-the-kennedy-centers-conservatory-project-2012/|website=Yale School of Music|access-date=7 September 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Yale School of Music 2/25/12 video|url=http://www.kennedy-center.org/explorer/videos/?id=M4949&type=A|website=The Kennedy Center|publisher=The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts|access-date=7 September 2015}}</ref> On December 3, 2012 she performed [W.A. Mozart: Sonata No. 15 in F major, K. 533/494](/source/Piano_Sonata_No._15_(Mozart)) in a piano master class with [Robert D. Levin](/source/Robert_D._Levin) at Parker Recital Hall in Leigh Hall, Yale University.<ref>{{cite web|title=Concerts & master classes with clarinetist Charles Neidich, pianist Robert Levin|url=http://music.yale.edu/2012/11/29/concerts-master-classes-with-clarinetist-charles-neidich-pianist-robert-levin/|website=Yale School of Music|publisher=Yale|access-date=7 September 2015}}</ref>

===2013===
On September 26, 2013 Cheung performed a duo recital "A Musical Dialogue" with [bassoonist](/source/bassoonist) Chan Ting Yuen in the [Citibank Plaza](/source/Citibank_Plaza) lobby, Central, Hong Kong.<ref>{{cite web|title=Community Events - 26 September 2013 - A Musical Dialogue by Rachel Cheung & Chan Ting Yuen|url=http://www.citibankplaza.com/eng/community_detail.jsp?pgcode=5ceac0af-5fe8-479b-8b1d-ff7655efeafe|website=Citibank Plaza|publisher=Champion REIT|access-date=15 September 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Kang|first1=Sunny|title=Rachel Cheung, Piano Recital, Yale School of Music Class of 2013|url=http://www.yaleclubhk.org/event_details.aspx?id=164|website=Yale Club of Hong Kong|access-date=7 September 2015}}</ref>

===2014===
On January 24, 2014 Cheung played a piano duet recital with Dr. Helen Cha at the Y.C. Cheng Lecture Theatre of the [Hong Kong Baptist University](/source/Hong_Kong_Baptist_University) in Kowloon.<ref>{{cite web|title=Dr. Helen Cha and Rachel Cheung - Piano Duet Recital|url=https://www.facebook.com/events/668465693204043/|website=Facebook|access-date=7 September 2015}}</ref>

===2015===
On July 10, 2015, Cheung premiered the solo piano work, ''aux portes des rêves (Fantasia quasi una Sonata)'' by the Hong Kong performer-composer, Angus Lee, at a flute duo-recital held jointly be Lee and Li Dan Wei at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Duo-Recital by Li Dan Wei and Angus Lee {{!}} art-mate.net |url=https://www.art-mate.net/doc/18050?name=Duo-Recital+by+Li+Dan+Wei+and+Angus+Lee |access-date=2025-03-23 |website=www.art-mate.net |language=zh-Hant}}</ref> Cheung would join Lee in the latter's recital organised by the Hong Kong government's [Leisure and Cultural Services Department](/source/Leisure_and_Cultural_Services_Department) in 2018, performing [Richard Strauss](/source/Richard_Strauss)'s ''[Sonata in E-flat major](/source/Violin_Sonata_(Strauss))'' [(Op. 18)](/source/Violin_Sonata_(Strauss))''.''<ref>{{Cite web |title=Young flautist and composer Angus Lee to show superb skills (with photo) |url=https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201809/05/P2018090400421.htm |access-date=2025-03-23 |website=www.info.gov.hk}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Standard |first=The |title=Stage dates for local musical talent |url=https://www.thestandard.com.hk/section-news/section/4/199594/Stage-dates-for-local-musical-talent |access-date=2025-03-23 |website=The Standard |language=en}}</ref>

On October 4, 2015 Cheung made her debut at the Stars of Steinway Recital Series at Dunkley Music in [Meridian, Idaho](/source/Meridian%2C_Idaho). Her season-opening concert was sponsored by Dunkley Music and Pianoconcert Idaho. She played Oiseaux tristes, Une barque sur l'ocean, and Alborada del gracioso from Ravel's [Miroirs](/source/Miroirs), Brahms' [Four Piano Pieces, Op. 119](/source/Four_Pieces_for_Piano%2C_Op._119_(Brahms)), and Prokofiev's [Piano Sonata No. 6 in A major, Op. 82](/source/Piano_Sonata_No._6_(Prokofiev)). Receiving multiple standing ovations and applause, she played two encores: Chopin's [Prelude Op. 28, No. 6](/source/Preludes_(Chopin)) and Liszt's [La Campanella](/source/La_Campanella).<ref>{{cite news|title=Stars of Steinway recital series opens|url=http://www.idahostatesman.com/2015/10/02/4014455/stars-of-steinway-recital-series.html|access-date=13 October 2015|work=Idaho Statesman|date=October 2, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=EVENTS - Stars of Steinway|url=http://events.ktvb.com/Stars_of_Steinway/322630075.html|access-date=13 October 2015|work=7 KTVB.COM|publisher=KTVB|date=October 2015}}</ref>

=== 2023 ===
Cheung was one of the featured artists in HKU MUSE's 2023/24 season, performing in the concert 'Limitless Limitations: Ligeti 100' in celebration of the centenary of the Hungarian composer, [György Ligeti](/source/Gy%C3%B6rgy_Ligeti). At the concert, she performed the composer's [Musica ricercata](/source/Musica_ricercata) (1951–53) for solo piano.

==Discography==
{|class="wikitable"
!
! title
! works
! label
! recording date
! recording location
! release date
! catalog number
! length
! format
|-
| 1.
| Rachel Cheung: Keyboard Prodigy Live in Recital<ref name="VAI Rachel Cheung: Keyboard Prodigy">{{cite web|title=Rachel Cheung: Keyboard Prodigy|url=https://www.vaimusic.com/VIDEO/DVD_4427_Cheung.htm|website=Video Artists International and VAI Audio|access-date=6 September 2015}}</ref>
| Bach, Haydn, Liszt, Chopin, Fauré, Prokofiev, Copland, Field
| Video Artists International (VAI)
| April 14, 2005
| Amaturo Theater, [Broward Center for the Performing Arts](/source/Broward_Center_for_the_Performing_Arts), 2005 [Miami](/source/Miami) International Piano Festival, [Fort Lauderdale](/source/Fort_Lauderdale), Florida, USA (live)
| May 29, 2007
| VAI DVD 4427
| 76:00
| [DVD](/source/DVD)
|-
| 2.
| Rachel Cheung, Piano: Works by Mozart, Liszt, Schubert, Chopin and Poulenc<ref name="The Alpha Omega Sound">{{cite web|title=The Alpha Omega Sound|url=http://www.chopinsocietyhk.org/alpha_omega/index.htm|website=The Chopin Society of Hong Kong Limited|access-date=6 September 2015}}</ref>
| Mozart, Schubert, Chopin, Liszt, Poulenc
| The Alpha Omega Sound (The Chopin Society of Hong Kong Limited)
| 2007
| Hong Kong (studio), mastered at [Abbey Road Studios](/source/Abbey_Road_Studios) in London
| 2009
| AOS-07-1003-1-1000-RACHEL CHEUNG
| 75:17
| [CD](/source/CD)
|-
|}

==References==
<references />

==External links==
* [http://www.rachelcheung.com official website]

{{Portal bar|Classical music|Music|Hong Kong|Biography}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cheung, Rachel}}
Category:1991 births
Category:Hong Kong pianists
Category:Prize-winners of the Leeds International Pianoforte Competition
Category:Prize-winners of the Gina Bachauer International Piano Competition
Category:Piano educators
Category:Alumni of the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts
Category:Yale School of Music alumni
Category:Child classical musicians
Category:Women classical pianists
Category:21st-century classical pianists
Category:Accompanists
Category:People from Kowloon
Category:Cantonese people
Category:Living people
Category:Chinese music educators
Category:Chinese women music educators
Category:21st-century Chinese women educators
Category:21st-century Chinese educators
Category:Hong Kong women educators
Category:Chinese pianists
Category:Chinese women pianists
Category:21st-century women pianists

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Rachel Cheung](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rachel_Cheung) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rachel_Cheung?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.