Bion Tsang
Encyclopedia
Bion Yu-Ting Tsang (born May 4, 1967) is an American
cellist and professor
.
to Chinese
parents. His father, Paul Ja-Min Tsang (章哲民), received a PhD from Michigan State University in metallurgy and his mother, Helena Rosa Lit (列国梅), pursued a doctorate in political science. When Tsang was 6 weeks old, his family moved to Poughkeepsie, New York
, where his father started a 30 year career as an engineer at IBM.
Tsang began piano
studies at age six and added cello
a year later. At age eight he entered the Juilliard School of Music
Pre-College Division, where he studied cello with Ardyth Alton, Channing Robbins and Leonard Rose
and piano with Edgar Roberts. Tsang attended Harvard University
for college, returning to Poughkeepsie on weekends to study cello with Luis Garcia-Renart. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Harvard, where he was nominated for a Rhodes Scholarship
and graduated with honors in January 1989. Subsequently, he spent the next six months in London, England studying cello privately with William Pleeth
, before moving on to Yale University
to study cello with Aldo Parisot
. Tsang received a Master of Music degree from Yale in June 1991 and a Master of Musical Arts degree in June 1993.
Tsang met his wife, Amy Levine, also a concert cellist and teacher, at the Marlboro Music Festival in Vermont. Amy’s father, Julius Levine, was a concert double bassist and teacher and her mother, Caroline Levine, is a concert violist and teacher. Amy and Bion have three children: Bailey, Henry and Maia. They currently reside in Austin
, Texas
.
and the New York Philharmonic Orchestra at age eleven performing the Boccherini Cello Concerto in Avery Fisher Hall
, Lincoln Center. He continues to perform internationally as concerto soloist, recitalist, chamber musician and recording artist.
Tsang has been internationally recognized by a number of awards including an Avery Fisher Career Grant and a Bronze Medal in the International Tchaikovsky Competition
. He is one of only 6 American cellists to have medaled at the International Tchaikovsky Competition since its inception in 1958. The book 21st Century Cellists devotes one entire chapter to him.
Tsang has given a number of notable premieres including: the U.S. premiere of the George Enescu
Symphonie Concertante, the U.S. premiere of Tan Dun
Crouching Tiger Concerto for Cello Solo and Chamber Orchestra, and the Boston premiere of the Erich Wolfgang Korngold
Cello Concerto.
Tsang is currently on the faculty of the Sarah and Ernest Butler School of Music
at The University of Texas at Austin as Associate Professor of Cello. He received the Texas Exes Teaching Award immediately after his first year of service at UT.
http://www.stringsmagazine.com/onlinebooks/Default.aspx?IssueID=209
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
cellist and professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
.
Biography
Bion Tsang was born in Lansing, MichiganMichigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
to Chinese
Chinese people
The term Chinese people may refer to any of the following:*People with Han Chinese ethnicity ....
parents. His father, Paul Ja-Min Tsang (章哲民), received a PhD from Michigan State University in metallurgy and his mother, Helena Rosa Lit (列国梅), pursued a doctorate in political science. When Tsang was 6 weeks old, his family moved to Poughkeepsie, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, where his father started a 30 year career as an engineer at IBM.
Tsang began piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
studies at age six and added cello
Cello
The cello is a bowed string instrument with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is a member of the violin family of musical instruments, which also includes the violin, viola, and double bass. Old forms of the instrument in the Baroque era are baryton and viol .A person who plays a cello is...
a year later. At age eight he entered the Juilliard School of Music
Juilliard School
The Juilliard School, located at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York City, United States, is a performing arts conservatory which was established in 1905...
Pre-College Division, where he studied cello with Ardyth Alton, Channing Robbins and Leonard Rose
Leonard Rose
Leonard Rose was an American cellist and pedagogue.Rose was born in Washington, D.C., his parents were immigrants from Kiev, Ukraine...
and piano with Edgar Roberts. Tsang attended Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
for college, returning to Poughkeepsie on weekends to study cello with Luis Garcia-Renart. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Harvard, where he was nominated for a Rhodes Scholarship
Rhodes Scholarship
The Rhodes Scholarship, named after Cecil Rhodes, is an international postgraduate award for study at the University of Oxford. It was the first large-scale programme of international scholarships, and is widely considered the "world's most prestigious scholarship" by many public sources such as...
and graduated with honors in January 1989. Subsequently, he spent the next six months in London, England studying cello privately with William Pleeth
William Pleeth
William Pleeth OBE was a well-known British cellist and an eminent teacher, who became widely known as the teacher of Jacqueline du Pré.- Early years :...
, before moving on to Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
to study cello with Aldo Parisot
Aldo Parisot
Aldo Simoes Parisot is a Brazilian-born American cellist and cello teacher, was formerly a member of the Juilliard School faculty, and currently is serving as a professor of music at the Yale School of Music....
. Tsang received a Master of Music degree from Yale in June 1991 and a Master of Musical Arts degree in June 1993.
Tsang met his wife, Amy Levine, also a concert cellist and teacher, at the Marlboro Music Festival in Vermont. Amy’s father, Julius Levine, was a concert double bassist and teacher and her mother, Caroline Levine, is a concert violist and teacher. Amy and Bion have three children: Bailey, Henry and Maia. They currently reside in Austin
Austin
Austin is the capital of the U.S. state of Texas.Austin may also refer to:-In the United States:*Austin, Arkansas*Austin, Colorado*Austin, Chicago, Illinois*Austin, Indiana*Austin, Minnesota*Austin, Nevada*Austin, Oregon...
, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
.
Career
Tsang made his debut with conductor Zubin MehtaZubin Mehta
Zubin Mehta is an Indian conductor of western classical music. He is the Music Director for Life of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra.-Biography:...
and the New York Philharmonic Orchestra at age eleven performing the Boccherini Cello Concerto in Avery Fisher Hall
Avery Fisher Hall
Avery Fisher Hall is a concert hall, in New York City and is part of the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts complex. It is the home of the New York Philharmonic, with a capacity of 2,738 seats.-History:...
, Lincoln Center. He continues to perform internationally as concerto soloist, recitalist, chamber musician and recording artist.
Tsang has been internationally recognized by a number of awards including an Avery Fisher Career Grant and a Bronze Medal in the International Tchaikovsky Competition
International Tchaikovsky Competition
The International Tchaikovsky Competition is a classical music competition held every four years in Moscow, Russia for pianists, violinists, and cellists between 16 and 30 years of age, and singers between 19 and 32 years of age...
. He is one of only 6 American cellists to have medaled at the International Tchaikovsky Competition since its inception in 1958. The book 21st Century Cellists devotes one entire chapter to him.
Tsang has given a number of notable premieres including: the U.S. premiere of the George Enescu
George Enescu
George Enescu was a Romanian composer, violinist, pianist, conductor and teacher.-Biography:Enescu was born in the village of Liveni , Dorohoi County at the time, today Botoşani County. He showed musical talent from early in his childhood. A child prodigy, Enescu created his first musical...
Symphonie Concertante, the U.S. premiere of Tan Dun
Tan Dun
Tan Dun is a Chinese contemporary classical composer, most widely known for his scores for the movies Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and Hero.-Early life in China:...
Crouching Tiger Concerto for Cello Solo and Chamber Orchestra, and the Boston premiere of the Erich Wolfgang Korngold
Erich Wolfgang Korngold
Erich Wolfgang Korngold was an Austro-Hungarian film and romantic music composer. While his compositional style was considered well out of vogue at the time he died, his music has more recently undergone a reevaluation and a gradual reawakening of interest...
Cello Concerto.
Tsang is currently on the faculty of the Sarah and Ernest Butler School of Music
Sarah and Ernest Butler School of Music
The Sarah and Ernest Butler School of Music is located on the eastern side of The University of Texas at Austin.With over 100 faculty members and more than 750 students, the Sarah and Ernest Butler School of Music ranks among the top 3% in the country....
at The University of Texas at Austin as Associate Professor of Cello. He received the Texas Exes Teaching Award immediately after his first year of service at UT.
Discography
Tsang’s official website contains an extensive library of free, downloadable recordings from his live performances. The following commercial recordings by Tsang are also available:- Live in Concert: Brahms Cello Sonatas and Four Hungarian Dances (Artek AR-0051-2), 2010
- A Company of Voices: ConspirareConspirareConspirare is a choral ensemble based out of Austin, Texas. They were formed in 1991 by conductor and musical director Craig Hella Johnson as New Texas Festival but did not begin to regularly perform until 1999...
in Concert (Harmonia Mundi HMU 907534), 2009 - Live in Concert: Beethoven Sonatas and Variations for Cello and Piano (Artek AR-0025-2), 2006
- Strauss / Turina: Quartets for Piano and Strings (Suoni e Colori SC253362), 2004
- Kodaly: Works for Violin and Cello (Suoni e Colori SC253282), 2002
- Schubert / Schumann: Works for Cello and Piano (CAMI 4268), 1991
Awards and recognition
- Grammy AwardGrammy AwardA Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
Nominee, Best Classical Crossover Album, 2009 - Texas Exes Teaching Award, Butler School of Music, The University of Texas at Austin, 2004
- Avery Fisher Career Grant, 1992
- Bronze Medal. IX International Tchaikovsky CompetitionInternational Tchaikovsky CompetitionThe International Tchaikovsky Competition is a classical music competition held every four years in Moscow, Russia for pianists, violinists, and cellists between 16 and 30 years of age, and singers between 19 and 32 years of age...
, 1990 - MEF Career Grant, 1990
- Finalist, Rhodes ScholarshipRhodes ScholarshipThe Rhodes Scholarship, named after Cecil Rhodes, is an international postgraduate award for study at the University of Oxford. It was the first large-scale programme of international scholarships, and is widely considered the "world's most prestigious scholarship" by many public sources such as...
, 1988 - Fifth Prize. VIII International Tchaikovsky CompetitionInternational Tchaikovsky CompetitionThe International Tchaikovsky Competition is a classical music competition held every four years in Moscow, Russia for pianists, violinists, and cellists between 16 and 30 years of age, and singers between 19 and 32 years of age...
, 1986 - Winner, Artists International Award, 1984
- Presidential Scholar in the Arts, Presidential Scholars ProgramPresidential Scholars ProgramThe United States Presidential Scholars Program is the highest possible honor for graduating high school seniors in the United States of America....
, 1984 - Piatigorsky Memorial Cello Prize, Young Musicians Foundation National Debut Competition, 1982
Further reading
String Letter Publishing (2001). 21st Century Cellists. Back Stage Books. ISBN 1890490393.http://www.stringsmagazine.com/onlinebooks/Default.aspx?IssueID=209