User:Weiwen Ma/sandbox

Weiwen Ma (Chinese: 马玮雯; born May 9, 1985) is a Chinese-American classical pianist. She has appeared at Carnegie Hall and Shanghai Grand Theatre. She is celebrated internationally for her virtuosic technique,her bold interpretations of the classic repertoire, and her vivacious stage presence. She has been described by world celebrated pianist Antonio Pompa-Baldi as “(playing) with flair and technical prowess. Her keyboard skills are remarkable.”

Early life and education
Weiwen Ma was born in Shanghai, China on 9 May 1985. Her father is a music lover and bought a piano for her to start piano lessons. At the age 4, she started piano group lessons at a kindergarten in Shanghai. The piano teacher told her father that her fingers were too weak to play the piano. At the age 5, Ma started her piano private lessons at home.

At age 12, Ma went to Dongfangxingzhi Fine Art Piano school, where she studied with Professor Yuqing Zhang. In 1999, she transferred studio to Professor Xiaosheng Zhao.

Ma made her first recital debut at the Heluding Concert Hall in Shanghai at the age of 16. She played four Ballades and Preludes op.28 by Chopin. In the same year, Ma made her appearance at the Shanghai Grand Theater and the Shanghai Concert Hall.

In 2003, at age 18, Ma entered the Oberlin Conservatory of Music in Oberlin, OH, where she received the Dean Talent Scholarship, studied with Robert Shannon and graduated in 2007. To continue her study, she was admitted to Cleveland institute of Music for a Master's degree, where she studied two years with Antonio Pompa-Baldi, and graduated in 2010. In 2014-2016, Ma went to the DePaul School of Music for a Performance Certificate degree and studied with George Vatchnadze.

2008-2013
On Oct. 21st, 2008, Ma performed at The Town Hall, New York, NY as the result of wining the Bronze medal of The First International Chinese Piano Competition in New York.

On February 11th, 2009, Ma performed Rachmaninoff' s Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini with the Cleveland Institute of Music orchestra at Kulas Hall in Cleveland as the result of wining the concerto competition in Cleveland Institute of Music. On May, Ma made her debut appearance at Carnegie Weill Hall, New York after winning the first prize of Bradshaw and Buono International Piano Competition.

On July 5th, 2011, Ma performed a solo concert at St. Mary's church concert series in Hudson OH. On October 14th, she performed a solo concert at Artist Series in Tabernacle Presbyterian Church in Indianpolis, IN.

On Oct.8th, 2013, Ma performed at Tuesday Musical Recital Series in Akron, OH.

2014
On April 27th, Ma world premiered the contemporary living composer -- Frank Wiley's Some Hope Upon the Sky: Songs on Sonnets by James Agee with soprano Susan Fletcher at Cleveland Composers Guild Concert at Christ Episcopal Church in Shaker Heights, OH. The concert was live broadcast and recorded on the Cleveland Classical Music radio Station WCLV 104.9. Later on Dec.20th, 2015, the live performance was replayed on the same radio station again.

In June 7th, Ma performed a solo concert at the Steinway Piano Gallery in Boston Heights, OH.

2015
On March 16th, Ma made her solo concert debut at the Pianoforte Foundation Salon Series which was broadcast both on Chicago radio WFMT (98.7 FM) and Youtube live in Chicago. She played all the Chopin program. On Sep.26th, She returned to PianoForte Studios Recital Hall, and performed a different program which include J.S. Bach the Well-Tempered Clavier Book II Prelude and Fugue No.22 in B flat minor BWV 891, Chopin Mazurka op.33 and Scherzo No.4 in E major op.54, Ravel Miroirs, Scriabin Sonata No.5 op.53 and Balakirev Islamey.

On Oct 9th, Ma performed at WFMT Chicago Bach Keyboard Festival Concert Series at the Alice Millar Chapel in Evanston, IL.

On Nov.15th, Ma was featured as a soloist and performed Ravel Concert in G major with the Wooster Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Jeffery Lindberg.

On Dec. 30st, Ma performed in the Dame Myra Hess Memorial Concert Series at Preston Bradley Hall of the Chicago Cultural Center. The concert was broadcast live on WFMT (98.7 FM) radio.

2017
On April 2nd, Ma performed the Rachmaninoff Rhapsody on a theme of Paganini with Park Ridge Civic Orchestra with the guest conductor Bill McGlaughlin.

2018
On January 3rd, Ma returned to the stage of the Dame Myra Hess Memorial Concert Series at the Preston Bradley Hall of the Chicago Cutlural Center.

on May 12th, Ma performed at the Buntrock Hall at the Chicago Symphony Center as the guest artist for the winners concert of the Vancouver International music competition.

On Nov 3rd, Ma was featured and invited to performed at the DePaul School of Music Alumni Showcase for DePaul New Building Opening Ceremony Concert at the Gannon Concert Hall at DePaul School of Music.

2019
On January 14th, Ma performed a piano trio concert at the Detroit Symphony Orchestra Chamber Music Series with the violinist Jing Zhang and the cellist David LeDoux.

On March 24th, Ma performed Mozart piano concerto K.503 in C major with the Northbrook Symphony Orchestra with conductor Lawrence Rapchak, she premier her cadenza at the concert.

On Oct.19th, Ma performed Liszt Polonaise No.2 at the American Liszt Society gala concert.

2020
On Jan.5th, Ma performed a solo concert at Schimmel Piano Gallery in Shanghai, China.

On Jan.29th, Ma performed a duet concert with pianist Keiko Alexander at The Clare in Chicago, IL.

On Feb.25th, Ma performed a solo concert at the Noontime Concerts series in San Francisco.

Teaching experiences

 * Aurora School of Music (September 2011- August 2014)
 * Music institute of Chicago (November 2014-Present)
 * Christopher Laughlin School of Music (Sep.2014-present)
 * Merit School of Music School of Music (March 2015-present)
 * Home studio