Dr. Alber Chien

Pianist Dr. Alber Chien, praised for his “sparkling technique and musicality,” is an award-winning artist known for his expressive solo artistry and dynamic chamber collaborations. He has performed at major venues across the United States, including Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall, and on international stages in Taiwan and Germany. His festival appearances include the Bowdoin International Music Festival, the Gilmore Keyboard Festival, and the Atlantic Music Festival. Renowned for his thoughtful interpretations of works such as J.S. Bach’s Goldberg Variations and Beethoven’s Hammerklavier Sonata, Dr. Chien has captivated audiences and earned recognition through numerous competition honors, including Second Prize at the Los Angeles Liszt International Competition, where he also received the Best Performance of a Hungarian Rhapsody Award.

A sought-after collaborative pianist, Dr. Chien regularly performs with leading instrumentalists and vocalists, bringing sensitivity and precision to each partnership. He has worked in masterclasses with renowned artists including Shmuel Ashkenasi, Midori, Vadim Gluzman, and Miriam Fried. His collaborative expertise has led to appointments at respected institutions such as the Manhattan School of Music and the Bowdoin International Music Festival, serving as the latter’s Staff Pianist since 2024. He also performs in a two-piano duo with his wife, Christie Cho, and together they have been frequently invited to present recitals across the country.

Dr. Chien earned degrees from Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music and Rutgers University’s Mason Gross School of the Arts. His teachers and mentors include Daniel Pollack, Shigeo Neriki, Jean-Louis Haguenauer, Daniel Epstein, Oxana Yablonskaya, and Pei-Shan Lee.

Alongside his performing career, Dr. Chien is a dedicated educator. He previously taught at Indiana University (Associate Instructor), Rutgers University (Co-adjutant), McLennan Community College (Visiting Instructor of Music), and the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor (Visiting Instructor of Piano). He currently serves as Instructor of Collaborative Piano at Texas A&M University–Kingsville.