Rachel Cheung Wai-Ching (piano)
Fourteen-year-old Rachel Cheung was born in Hong Kong. She started piano lessons at four and was later admitted to the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts as a junior student studying under Prof. Eleanor Wong.
Rachel has won first prizes at numerous competitions at home and abroad. She was awarded First Prize at the 2001 Steinway and Sons International Youth Piano Competition (Hong Kong Regional Competition), and First Prize at the 2002 Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod, Wales. In 2003, Rachel won First Prize at the International Competition for Young Pianists in Memory of Vladimir Horowitz in Ukraine. She then won First Prize at the 2004 Gina Bachauer International Junior Piano Competition in Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S.A.
In May 2004, she was awarded the Certificate of Commendation by the Hong Kong Government for outstanding achievements in the promotion of arts and culture in Hong Kong.
She makes frequent solo appearances in Hong Kong and overseas. Highlights of recent seasons include The Vladimir Horowitz 100th Anniversary Celebration Concert in Kiev, two concert tours of the U.S.A. and recitals in Taiwan. Rachel has also been invited to participate at prestigious international music festivals such as The 9th Musical Olympus International Festival in Russia, The 59th International Chopin Festival in Poland, and the 8th Miami International Piano Festival in USA. Through the generous sponsorship of The Hong Kong Chopin Society, Rachel made her debut at City Hall in Hong Kong and in Uruguay. In 2005, Rachel had the distinction of being the youngest soloist ever to perform a recital at the 33rd Hong Kong Arts Festival.
Rachel has collaborated with many orchestras including The National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine in Kiev, St. Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra in Russia, Beethoven Orchestra Bonn in Germany, Orchestra at Temple Square in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA, Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra and the Hong Kong Sinfonietta.
This will be her first performance for The Hong Kong Chamber Music Society.
