Tzu-Jung Peng

Tzu-Jung Peng, a pianist from Taiwan, has brought his artistry to audiences in Asia, Europe, and North America. He earned his Bachelor of Music degree under the guidance of Pei-Chun Liao at the University of Taipei, followed by a Master of Music degree with Arnaldo Cohen at the Indiana University Bloomington Jacobs School of Music. He continued his studies in the Artist Certificate program with Chih-Long Hu at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, and is currently pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Piano Performance at the University of Southern California Thornton School of Music, where he studies with internationally renowned pianist and conductor Jeffrey Kahane. In addition to Piano Performance, his areas of specialization include Music Teaching and Learning, Theory and Analysis, and Keyboard Collaborative Arts. He also serves as a Teaching Assistant and the Secondary Applied Coordinator in the Keyboard Studies Department, supporting both instructional activities and administrative responsibilities.

 

His accomplishments on the competition stage include being a semi-finalist in the 21st International Piano Competition ‘Mauro Paolo Monopoli Prize’ in Barletta, Italy. He is also a prize winner in numerous competitions, including the Concerto Competition at the University of Taipei, the Memphis International Piano Competition, and the Knoxville Piano Festival and Competition. After winning first prize in the University of Tennessee Piano Concerto Competition, he performed Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto No. 3 as a soloist with the University of Tennessee Symphony Orchestra.

 

Deeply committed to collaborative and educational work, he has participated in numerous masterclasses and private lessons with distinguished artists such as Jean-Marc Luisada, Gwhyneth Chen, Eugen Indjic, Andrew Brownell, James Giles, Deborah Moriarty, Arthur Greene, Boris Berman, Meng-Chieh Liu, Steven Hough, and the Harlem Quartet. As a passionate chamber musician, he was a finalist in the 2025 MTNA Chamber Music Competition held in Minneapolis, Minnesota. His ensemble’s participation was fully funded by The Kenneth T. and Eileen L. Norris Foundation.

 

Peng frequently performs and presents at national conferences, including the Asian Classical Music Initiative (ACMI) Conference, the MTNA National Conference, and the MTNA Collegiate Symposium. In recognition of his artistic excellence and academic achievements, Peng was awarded the 2024 Taiwan Government Scholarship (GSSA), one of the most esteemed honors granted to native Taiwanese students pursuing international study.