ALIGHIERIDUO

Lauded for her “particularly lovely” playing and “boundless creativity”, collaborative pianist Candace Chien is an active performer and teacher in the New York City area.  The 2021-22 concert season includes appearances at Kimmel Center Perelman Hall and Academy of Music, Five Boroughs Music Festival, collaborations with Fresh Squeezed Opera and Opera On Tap and more. She continues her role as pianist for On Site Opera, including a featured performance at Caramoor’s summer season alongside mezzo-soprano Stephanie Blythe.  Candace is also Music for Autism’s Spotlight Artist of 2022, advocating for neurodiverse classical music experiences. 

 

Candace is a graduate of The Juilliard School, studying with Jonathan Feldman and Margo Garrett, and continues on at Juilliard as one of their staff pianists. She received her Master’s degree in piano performance at the Manhattan School of Music with the guidance of Jeffery Cohen and obtained her undergraduate degree in piano performance and music education at Temple University under Professor Harvey Wedeen.  An avid chamber musician, Candace regularly performs with chamber groups Alighieri Duo, a violin piano duo, and piano trio Trio Portinari.  Her chamber music performances have taken her all over the east coast of the US, Canada, and Sweden, with members of the New York Philharmonic and Sydney Symphony.  She has coached with members of Juilliard String Quartet, American String Quartet, Tokyo String Quartet and Nash Ensemble.  Other influential mentors include JJ Penna, Gina Levinson, Lucie Robert, Kenneth Cooper, and Charles Abramovic. She has participated in masterclasses with Lambert Orkis, Warren Jones, and Czech pianist Ivan Klansky. 

 

Passing on her love of classical music to the next generation is a particular passion for Candace.  She has held music teaching positions in the public schools of Westfield, New Jersey and Queens, New York, and piano faculty positions at Usdan Center of Creative and Performing Arts and Point Counterpoint Chamber Music Festival.  Along with acceptances to LaGuardia High School for Performing Arts, West Chester University, University of North Texas, and Temple University, Candace’s students are also  prize winners at various NYC competitions, performing at Carnegie Hall Weill Recital Hall, Merkin Hall, etc. 

 

In her spare time between teaching and performing, one can also find Candace in the kitchen.  Her personal connection to music and food can be seen on Food Network tv show, Cooks Versus Cons, Season 4 in the episode “Fry, Fry Again!”.