Yun-Yun Chiang was born in Taoyuan, Taiwan, and studied violin with Chu-Chan Liu from the age of five. During her studies at the Wu-Ling Senior High School, she received further music education. She won numerous competitions at a national level, for example the first prize of the Violin Competition of the Academy of Taiwan Strings, which enabled her to appear as the soloist with the Academy of Taiwan Strings at a gala concert at the National Concert Hall in Taipei at the age of 16. She also attained a fourth place at the International Music Competition in Osaka. At the same time, she actively participated in musical festivals such as the Paganini Festival, the Kronberg Academy and the ISA Masterclass in Vienna, while also attending master courses with renowned violinists such as Pavel Vernikov, Dora Schwarzberg, Anton Sorokow and Edward Zienkowski. In 2014 she began studying for a bachelor’s degree with Igor Ozim and Harald Herzl at the Mozarteum in Salzburg. In 2018 she enrolled for a master’s degree with Tanja Becker-Bender at the Hamburg Academy of Music and Theatre. During her studies in Germany, she gained orchestral experience in the academy orchestra in Hamburg, the NDR Youth Symphony Orchestra and the TONALi Orchestra. She was an intern at the Osnabrück Symphony Orchestra, a member of the orchestral academy of the Mecklenburgische Staatskapelle and had a limited engagement at the Osnabrück Symphony Orchestra. Since 2023, she has been a member of the Luxembourg Philharmonic Academy.
Can you present us your instrument in three words?
Sweet, warm and elegant.
Do you remember the first time you fell in love with your instrument?
It was when I listened to Jascha Heifetz playing and tried to imitate the way he was playing. That’s when I fell in love with my violin.
If you could have dinner with one composer or artist (dead or alive), who would it be and why?
I would say my dear professor Igor Ozim because I miss him a lot. and he was like a
grandpa to me. Unfortunately, he’s not here anymore, but I would really like to talk to
him.
If you had to impress someone at an audition, what piece would you play?
I would play Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto, because I feel comfortable playing it multiple times.
What have been your favourite moments with the Luxembourg Philharmonic Academy so far?
I have a lot of favourite moments at the Academy! For example, some concerts we played such as the Ciné-Concert E.T. or the jazz concert with Wayne Marshall. It is also nice to live with the other academicians, we have a really great atmosphere. Thanks to my colleagues and friends here, I feel at home in Luxembourg.
When you’re not busy playing music, where are we most likely to find you?
Most likely in my bed! I eat in bed, sleep in bed and watch Netflix in bed.
What three songs are living rent-free in your head?
Help Me Lose My Mind by Disclosure, Get You by Daniel Caesar and Nikes on My Feet by Mac Miller.
©: Sebastien Grebille
