第三屆 INFINITY 國際音樂大賽

Dr Fan-Fen Tai

“A pleasure of a [Handel] harp concerto….played dazzlingly by Fan-Fen Tai.” --The Herald-Times“...Tai jump in on the third movement, setting the tone with the imitation of the open strings of a guitar at the start, then vaulting into a virtuoso tour de force that called for all manner of percussive action, intricate pedaling, coloristic nuance and kaleidoscopic mood. From the Bartokian grandeur of its midsection to the knife-edged urgency of its finale, Tai nailed the piece.”--Tucson Citizen

Dr. Fan-Fen Tai is an adjunct faculty member of Indiana University Jacobs School of Music since 2010. She has coaches chamber music groups, directed the IU harp ensemble, and teaches college and precollege students. An avid chamber musician, Tai has formed two harp flute viola trio, Syrix and La Follie. They worked on new repertoire composed for this combination and, with the latter group, they performed at venues such as the National Recital Hall in Taipei. She and violinist Ji-Woon Jung formed a violin and harp duo named BloomingDuo. Working with composer Aaron Travers on new repertoire, the duo premiered Vals for Susann at the 10th USA International Harp Competition in 2016 and at the World Harp Congress in Hong Kong in 2017 (with violist I-Ching Li). They also premiered Travers’ Three Dances in 2016 and two new tango pieces by Travers—Tango for Ji-Woon and Milonga for Fan-Fen (2019) at Tai’s benefit concert for USA International Harp Competition. In 2018, she was invited to perform Benjamin Britten’s The Ceremony of Carols with Taiwan National Choir, working with conductor Martin Schebesta. She has served on the juries in competitions such as the Taiwan Harp Competition, the Competition of the National Federation of Music Clubs Junior Festival, and the preliminary video round of the 11th USA International Harp Competition.

Tai received her DM from Indiana University in 2009, studying with Susann McDonald. She holds an MM from the University of Arizona studying with Dr. Carrol McLaughlin and a BM from Taipei National University of Arts studying with Sophie Clavel. Tai was a prizewinner of numerous competitions, including the Laureate Prize at the First Vera Dulova International Harp Competition in Moscow in 2000, the Indianapolis Matinee Musicale in 2008, President’s Competition of University of Arizona in 2001, Taipei Symphony Orchestra Concerto Competition in 1995 and the First Taiwan Harp Competition in 1993. Her trio Syrix (flute, viola and harp) won the “people’s choice” and the top prize in the Travel Grant Competition of Indiana University in
2007. She was a member of Harpfusion, the largest traveling harp ensemble, with which she sperformed in Vera Doluva Harp Competition and Festival in Russia, World Harp Congress in Switzerland and many universities in California and Arizona. She appeared as a soloist playing concertos with Taipei Symphony Orchestra, Asian Youth Orchestra, the University of Arizona Symphony Orchestra, and the IU Orchestras.

Tai currently resides at Bloomington, Indiana with her husband, Charles Lin and her two daughters, Lyla and Chloe. She loves to share her knowledge and passion for harp with the public. She performs weekly at the “8th wonder of the world”—West Baden Spring Hotel and has enjoyed working with students of all ages and levels, and promotes harp in elementary schools and local communities. Besides harp, she enjoys nature, gardening and outdoor activities.

葉詩韻博士

葉詩韻博士是在加拿大的豎琴家中少數同時榮獲演奏和教育獎項的權威。她常受聘當國際音樂大賽和國內比賽的評審, 包括全加拿大規模最大的Canada Music Competition, 也時常在北美和亞洲指導大師班。葉老師4歲學琴, 大學畢業於UBC之後, 以全額獎學金保送到長春藤的耶魯大學進修碩士課程, 更進一步到音樂研究所的最高學府之一, 印第安納大學, 受邀當大學助教, 同時攻讀博士學位。在中學時, 她已和溫哥華交響樂團獨奏了數十場音樂會, 也常在許多歷史悠久的音樂比賽裡, 第一位以豎琴家的身份贏得第一名的殊榮。

在豎琴教育的領域裡, 葉博士得到各單位的支持與肯定。加拿大最大的考級機制, Royal Conservatory of Music, 頒贈數次教師金牌給她, 褒揚她的學生在考級中達到全國最高分。為了傳承音樂教育給下一代, 葉老師曾擔任溫哥華婦女音樂協會獎學金的職行長。卑詩省藝術學會和東岸的加拿大藝術學會也曾對葉老師在音樂界的貢獻而頒獎給她。

許多世界各地的豎琴學子慕名而來跟葉老師上課, 包括歐洲、中東和亞洲。她精準的指導和耐心讓很多學生的琴藝增進,甚至有很多從零開始學了不到兩年, 就已在國際大賽的兒童組裡獲得金牌, 受邀到紐約的卡內基音樂會獨奏。葉老師熱心安排各種交流的機會給學生, 她的學生時常與各藝術單位合作, 包括列治文交響樂團, 溫哥華愛樂, 溫哥華巴哈合唱團和 Sunshine Coast 交響樂團。學生們不但能與同輩互相學習, 傳播音樂之美, 也能豐富未來的履歷。

葉老師相信以身作則是最有影響力的教育方法。雖然教學繁忙, 她憑著對演奏的愛好, 堅持定期受邀演出, 包括在香港與溫哥華的世界豎琴大會, 美國Bellingham音樂節, 德國Schleswig-Holstein 音樂節, 溫哥華交響樂團, 溫哥華大都會樂團和溫哥華歌劇, 都可常看到她的演出。她的錄音也常在CBC電台被播放, 並受到各大媒體關注, 電視節目例如楓華博覽, 都市有約, 晚間新聞, 報紙Richmond Review, 世界日報, 品味雜誌及電台FM 96.1都曾專訪過她。

Dr Liya Huang

“…dazzling, colorful and delightful. …no doubt a musical feast.”
—Cincinnati Enquirer

“...an outstanding harpist who plays with intelligent and thoughtful musicianship, couples with extraordinary
technical prowess. Her performances are at a very high musical level of communication and conviction.”
—Susann McDonald, distinguished harp professor of IU Jacobs School of Music

Born in Taiwan, Dr. Liya Huang held the position as the Principal Harp of China National Centre for the
Performing Arts Orchestra from 2011 to 2020. She was the Guest Principal Harp of BBC Symphony
Orchestra (2019), Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra (2015-2016), Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal
(2014) and many leading Chinese Orchestras. She has performed under the baton of Myung-whun Chung,
Christoph Eschenbach, Valery Gergiev, Lorin Maazel, Zubin Mehta, Kent Nagano, Japp Van Zweden,
Leonard Slatkin, Jun Märkl, Fabio Luisi, Günther Herbig, Jukka-Pekka Saraste, Daniel Oren, Vladimir
Ashkenazy, Shao-Chia Lü and Jia Lü.

Liya works regularly with NCPA Orchestra, Taipei Symphony Orchestra, One-Song Orchestra (Taiwan),
Kentucky Symphony Orchestra, CCM Philharmonia Orchestra, CCM Modern Music Ensemble amongst
others. She appeared as the soloist in the Mozart-Concerto for Flute and Harp with NCPA Orchestra in 2019,
Handel-Harp Concerto in Bb Major with Taipei Symphony Orchestra and Zhe-Yi Lee-Harp Concerto
“Double Happiness” with One-Song Orchestra in 2018. A dedicated chamber musician, her recent highlights
include chamber concerts in Beijing (2020) and opening concert of NCPA May festival (Ravel-Introduction
et Allegro for String Quartet, Flute, Clarinet and Harp), apart from other recitals and chamber concerts she
did in Taipei, Beijing and United States. She was the guest solo artist of international festivals such as the
Second Taiwan International Harp Festival (2019), 13th World Harp Congress in Hong Kong (2017), First
Taiwan International Harp Festival (2015), Shanghai International Harp Festival (2014), Spoleto Music
Festival in Italy (2010).

Liya received her DMA Degree from Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. She gave master classes
and lecture concerts in renown music conservatories such as the Central Conservatory of Music, China
Conservatory of Music and National Taiwan Arts University. She was invited to join the faculty of summer
festivals and academies such as the Orchestra Kids, Forbidden City Harp Academy and the Forbidden City
Summer Harp Class. Liya founded “Sheer Arts Harp Class” in Beijing and worked closely with iartschool in
Hangzhou for their online harp program. Her students were winners of international/domestic competitions,
orchestra auditions and received admissions to prestigious music schools in United States and Germany.
Liya’s multiple awards include the “Musical Talents Prize” presented by Taipei Symphony, top prize of
“Multi-Media New Music Competition” from the World Harp Congress in Hong Kong 2017 with her
collaborative work “In the darkest night, we sing…”, and the “Young Promising Artist” of Taiwan Classical
Music Association in 2010.

Her first album: Harpy Lab-A Collection of Harp Compositions by Contemporary Taiwanese Composers was
released in March 2018, under the label of Feeling Good Music Co. Other significant recordings she
appeared as principal harpist including Richard Wagner-Die Walküre with Hong Kong Philharmonic
Orchestra, under the baton of Jaap Van Sweden (Naxos) in 2016 and Wagner/Maazel-The Ring without
Words with NCPA Orchestra, conducted by Lorin Maazel (Sony) in 2013.

Ms Barbora Plachá

Barbora Plachá, born in Prague in 1988, is an artist who both plays classical music and participates in multi-genre projects.

Czech audiences and critics have commended Barbora for her poetic interpretations
and feel for music, and she is one of the leading solo harpists in the Czech Republic.
She strives to connect with her listeners through raw emotion and intensely
expressive performances.

Barbora Plachá has received awards in many national and international harp and
chamber music competitions.


She has given recitals and chamber music concerts in many European countries,
China and Mexico. And some of her solo and chamber music performances have
been broadcast by the main classical music stations in the Czech Republic: Radio
Classic, Czech National Radio 2 – Vltava, Czech National Radio – Jazz, Czech
National Radio – Radiožurnál.


Musically versatile, Barbora has, in addition to her solo performances with several
orchestras and chamber music ensembles, performed jazz with jazz ensembles both
in Norway (Silje Nergaard, Helge Sunde, Morten Gunnar Larsen) and the Czech
Republic (David Doružka, Luboš Soukup...).


Barbora and the specially formed band SALOME have in the past ten years
presented Karel Kryl's set of songs for voice, harp, clarinet and guitar in more than
200 concerts all over the Czech Republic. In Norway she is a member of the
Ensemble +47, playing new music.


She has performed at prestigious musical festivals in the Czech Republic including
the Prague Spring Festival, Strings of Autumn, Walks through Art, South Bohemian
Chamber Festival, American Spring International Music Festival, Václav Hudeček and
his Guests; also at Slovakian Harp Days, Tschechisch-Deutsche Kulturtage and, in
Belgium, Harpe Diem and Journée de la Harpe.


Barbora plays regularly as a soloist with Czech and Slovak professional orchestras
and chamber music ensembles. She has performed with several important Czech
musicians, including the legendary violinists Josef Suk or Václav Hudeček.


Upcoming performances include solo and chamber music at major Czech Festivals:
International Festival of J.C.F.Fischer, Celebrations of Music, South Bohemian
Chamber Music Festival etc. A solo performance with the Karlovy Vary Symphony
Orchestra, the Philharmony of Hradec Králové and Marienbad symphonic orchestra.
With her project „Czech music for harp through the centuries“ she will perform at
several harp festivals around Europe (Germany, Estonia, Greece etc.).
She works closely with prominent composers who dedicated their works to her (Kjell
Habbestad, Marcus Paus etc.). Due her wish to extend the harp repertoire she is
regurarly working on her own harp arrangements of mostly Czech romantic music by
BARBORA PLACHÁ
A. Dvořák, J. Suk, Z. Fibich and B. Smetana. Her arrangements are published by the
Arpeggio Publishing.
In 2022 she has been the scientific editor for the book „HARPS in the Collection of
the National Museum – Czech Museum of Music“ and is very closely collaborating
with the Czech Museum of Music also on their archive of music for harp, or
performing concerts on historical harps...
Impelled by her passion for teaching young people, she founded the Arpeggio Harp
School in Prague in 2009 and the Norsk Harpeakademi in Oslo in 2017. Since 2021
she is the harp professor at the Music Gymnasium in Prague.
Her students regularly win international harp competitions, and Barbora is often
invited to be a jury member at International harp competitions (International Harp
Competition in Hungary, National Competition for Music Schools (CZ), International
Harp Competition of Karel Patras, International Harp Competition in Zagreb etc).
She has also been invited to give workshops and masterclasses at several schools,
conservatories and harp festivals in the Czech and Slovak Republics or in Norway (for
example at the Stavanger Harp Weekend in October 2021).
In 2009 Barbora established the Harp Atelier Arpeggio in Prague; it is the sole
authorized distributor of French Camac harps for the Czech Republic and Slovakia.
Harp Atelier Arpeggio runs the harp school mentioned above, and also initiates and
organises a variety of musical projects.


In 2014 Barbora established the Prague Harp Festival, of which she is Artistic
Director. Held every two years, this festival has become an important event in the
cultural life of the city of Prague.


In 2023 will be the first annual of the chamber music festival “Posázavský music
festival” she has established.


Due her passion for the early music, she plays a very precious harp Louis XVI. from
the court of Marie Antoinette, made by Renault&Chatelain in 1780 in Paris and
restored in 2019 by Rainer M. Thurau, of which she have become honorary owner.
She performs in a trio with countertenor and baroque violin or in several early music
ensembles (Musica Florea, Collegium 1704, Czech Baroque Ensemble etc.)
On this harp she has released in 2020 her solo CD with the record label ArcoDiva in
Prague.


The album was highly praised by critics:
"Barbora Plachá is a splendid guide to this repertoire, precise in fingering, alert in
her attention to tempo and phrasing. She has a clarity of purpose which gives due
weight to the articulation of each note, while bring out the contrasts of tempo which
are significant to both composers.
Sheer delight!"
Michael Wilkinson, MusicWeb International
"The ability of authentic interpretation has enabled Barbora Plachá to apply not only
exceptional talent in her debut record, but also to combine her existing knowledge
with playing an extraordinary instrument, the tone of which has no comparison."
"Rhythm, melody and virtuosity are the basis for the harpist's naturally technically
and expression-rich interpretation. Thanks to her, every detail gets the right space."
Marta Tužilová, Harmonie 07/2020
Barbora Plachá has studied music at the Prague Conservatory and at the Royal
Conservatory of Brussels, and she completed her Master degree in Solo
Performance at the Norwegian Academy of Music in Oslo.

郭悅老師

郭悅，現中國愛樂樂團豎琴演奏家，CCTV光榮綻放十大豎琴演奏家之一。以優異成績畢業於耶魯大學音樂學院並獲碩士學位。曾獲北美弦樂教師協會獨奏大賽豎琴專業青年組第一名，美國安妮·亞當斯（Anne Adams）豎琴比賽金獎，同時獲得John Escosa紀念基金獎，以及世界著名豎琴廠商Lyon & Healy設定的特別獎。在美期間曾被特邀在紐約舉辦的美國豎琴大會上演奏，並受邀在2017年第13屆香港世界豎琴大會上進行獨奏演出。2018年成功和世界著名豎琴大師Xavier de Maistre （狄‧梅斯特）與中國愛樂樂團合作演出雙豎琴協奏曲，並獲得一致好評。

郭悅曾擔任世界著名音樂節坦格伍德國際音樂節樂團(Tanglewood Music Festival) 豎琴首席, Round Top國際音樂節豎琴首席。在美期間, 除了擔任耶魯音樂學院愛樂樂團及奧柏林交響樂團豎琴首席之外，郭悅還曾作為美國紐黑文及奧柏林現代音樂室內樂團的豎琴首席，積極參與對各類現代音樂的研究與演奏。郭悅曾隨中國愛樂樂團出訪世界多國進行演出，包括美國、加拿大、俄羅斯、日本、韓國、希臘、古巴等地。並在2019年10月1日國慶晚會的千人交響樂團中擔任豎琴首席。受邀與廣州交響樂團，杭州交響樂團等樂團合作。此外，郭悅還曾受邀為天津茱莉亞音樂學院豎琴學生進行授課。

郭悅在耶魯大學音樂學院期間，獲全額獎學金，師從於著名豎琴演奏家、教育家June Han教授。 2007年畢業於中央音樂學院附中，師從我國著名豎琴教育家魏林林教授，在附中六年的學習中，多年榮獲各類優秀學生獎學金。 2007年以全額獎學金考取美國奧柏林音樂學院（Oberlin Conservatory），師從美國著名豎琴演奏家、教育家Yolanda Kondonassis教授，獲學士學位。另外，在耶魯大學與奧柏林大學就讀期間，曾擔任兩位教授的助教，負責協助June Han教授和Yolanda Kondonassis教授輔導本科生的豎琴專業教學工作。

譚逸嘉老師

譚逸嘉是首位於國際賽事中奪冠的香港豎琴家。她於《第十六屆大阪國際音樂比賽》中分別獲得豎琴組金獎及特別獎 “松尾博賞”，並成為首位獲邀於日本東京舉行豎琴獨奏會的港人。她亦在第十屆法國豎琴大賽協奏曲組別中獲得第二名 (第一名從缺) 。譚氏亦於2012年《阿德萊德豎琴音樂節》中榮獲得愛麗斯·查莉霍斯獎。她亦因該獎項獲《香港豎琴之友》頒發獎學金。


譚氏六歲開始學習鋼琴, 曾獲無數獎項，十一歲開始學習鍵盤和聲技巧, 十五歲考入香港演藝學院開始學習豎琴。於2002年畢業於香港演藝學院鋼琴系，先後獲頒演藝文憑(音樂)及音樂學士(榮譽)學位。畢業後，她跟隨多位國際知名豎琴大師學習，主修導師為東京音樂大學豎琴系教授篠崎史子。

譚氏曾獲邀於《第五屆香港豎琴節》及《2016荷蘭國際豎琴節》上獻藝。此外，她亦於著名豎琴家朱迪恩·雷伯於意大利舉行的豎琴音樂會上演奏。於第五屆香港豎琴節，她與英國皇室御用豎琴家Catrin Finch一同演奏其作品。她的演奏亦於香港電台第四台及電視台播出。

譚氏亦是" 香港豎琴四重奏" 創辦人之一, 曾獲邀到荷蘭、法國、意大利、及韓國演奏。

譚氏現為泛亞管弦樂團豎琴首席。參與演出的樂團包括澳門樂團、深圳城市愛樂樂團、傳承愛樂、香港歌劇院樂團、西貢管弦樂團(越南)、香港城市流行樂團、香港愛樂團、香港交響管樂團、環宇交響樂團、學仕樂團等。

譚氏除了活躍於獨奏、樂團演出外，亦曾獲邀於演唱會上演奏，合作過的歌手包括Hollie Steel、菊梓喬、陳潔靈、林子样、陳潔儀、林曉蓓、玉置浩二、Connie Francis等。此外亦參與錄製音樂劇專輯及為電影音樂錄製配樂。

譚氏屢次獲頒傑出教師獎，她的學生成績優異，於多項本地或國際賽事中均屢獲殊榮，學生同時亦成功考取音樂獎學金，更有學生獲邀到維也納演奏。

於2021年, 譚逸嘉成為了Harp Column Artist, 編寫並出版了多本樂譜，是最全面的香港豎琴家。

莫家頴老師  Mr Jeff Mok

莫家頴老師（Jeff Mok）先後就讀於香港教育大學音樂教育榮譽學士和英國西倫敦大學（倫敦音樂學院）音樂演奏音樂碩士。畢業後，曾向Dr. Lo Khin Yee、黃輔棠教授、Prof. Sergey Fatkulin、張世祥教授、王家陽教授、張又老師等教授和老師學習小提琴教學法，更曾跟Dr. Henry Chow和Mr. Robert Langston學習演奏教學法。莫氏曾為黃鐘小提琴教學法導師及香港代表，積極推廣黃鐘小提琴教學法，培育更多黃鐘師生。

除此之外，莫氏曾獲頒多個傑出教師獎，當中包括由加拿大Quebc比賽主辦單位、North American Virtuoso 比賽主辦單位和 Wien International Young Musicians Music Competition主辦單位頒發傑出教學證書。

近年，莫氏的學生積極參與本地及國際賽事，更屢獲三甲，當中更有學生獲邀到加拿大及美國演奏。

區凱棋老師 Ms Jan Au

區凱棋於2022年畢業於英國皇家伯明翰音樂學院，取得大提琴演奏碩士學位。師承聖馬田室樂團前首席Lionel Handy教授。

區氏九歲開始師隨齊漢芳老師及安悦老師習琴。2020年畢業於香港演藝學院，獲得榮譽音樂學士學位，師從董曉露老師主修大提琴。同時亦師從香港古提琴演奏家林添偉副修古提琴。多次被邀請參與香港早期音樂協會舉辦的音樂會，以古提琴手身份擔任獨奏一員。

在英國留學期間，區氏獲得不少參與大提琴大師班的機會，受大提琴家Julian Lloyd Webber 、王健、Toke Møldrup、Ulrich Heinen 及知名大提琴教育及演奏家Hannah Roberts等的指導。區氏在學院作為大提琴助理首席期間，合作過的指揮包括伯明翰市立交響樂團指揮Michael Seal 和西雅圖交響樂園指揮Ludovic Morlot。室內樂方面則受到過Castalian String Quartet及Lindsay String Quartet的成員指導。

除了礸研音樂獨奏表演外，區氏亦積極參與不同音樂類型的表演和訓練，領域涵蓋弦樂四重奏、交響樂團、巴洛克早期音樂演奏法及音樂教學法。在校期間被校方多次邀請參與公開演奏及獨奏，均獲得一致好評及讚賞。

區氏擁有超過十年教學經驗，現為油麻地天主教小學大提琴樂器班導師、嘉諾撒聖心學校弦樂組導師及音樂事務處兼職大提琴導師。