TESTIMONY
Faculty
-Che-Yen Chen / Chief Executive Officer & UCLA Professor of Viola
In 2020, the newly established Taipei Music Academy & Festival overcame tremendous difficulties and became one of only two music festivals in the world that remained open to the public during the COVID-19 pandemic. Like all Taiwanese on the island, that triumph was a defining moment for me personally. The mission of TMAF is to bring the world's best musicians to share their musicianship with audiences and students alike and to bring the world to Taiwan. With the continuous effort of our faculties and staff as well as the unwavering support of our sponsors, TMAF continues to carry on its mission and strives to become a beacon in the music world during challenging times.
-Leonard Slatkin / Music Director Laureate of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra
Working with TMAF has been one of the greatest pleasures of my musical life. Helping to foster young musicians and shape them into the professionals they are about to become helps insure the future of the profession. With outstanding leadership and a faculty that is truly world-class, it is safe to say that the music world will be the beneficiaries of this incredible continuing venture.
-Kent Nagano / General Music Director of the Hamburg State Opera
The Academy is exceptional educational format because it is one of a few which allows talented young musicians to not only study with internationally renown professional artists but also to interact with them on the performance stage.
This special structure allows the gaining first hand knowledge through sharing the rehearsal and concert experience with mature, accomplished and recognized professionals.
-Koichiro Harada / Head of String of the Toho Gakuen School of Music
TMAF provides an opportunity for the most talented musicians to bring out their full potential. I have seen many students leave the festival as vastly improved musicians. I hope to see many such students going forward.
-Frank Huang / Concertmaster of the New York Philharmonic
TMAF is a unique opportunity for world class faculty and talented students from all over the world to come together and inspire each other through music.
-Mark Kosower / Principal Cello of the Cleveland Orchestra
If you are looking for a comprehensive musical experience learning, interacting, and playing with some of the greatest musicians and young talent in the world in a fun and supportive environment - this is the place for you.
-John Bruce Yeh / Assistant Principal Clarinet of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra
The Taipei Music Academy and Festival provides an invaluable experience of artistry and learning for the best of aspiring young musicians. We explore orchestral and chamber music at the very highest level in a nurturing and collegial environment, collaborating closely with a most distinguished international faculty, all world-class performers and educators. We play concerts in magnificent venues around Taiwan. The culture and food are amazing too. TMAF is tops! Hope to see you there.
-Emily Beynon / Principal Flute of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra
The Taipei Music Academy and Festival (TMAF) is a beautiful, well-structured, non-competitive and absolutely unique music program for young musicians. The faculty is made up of some of the very best orchestral and chamber music musicians from around the globe and it is a huge honour and great pleasure to work with them all.
For the wind players, working with small classes of students allows for the luxury of almost daily lessons, and working in a chamber music ensemble with students and faculty together makes for a fascinating and thoroughly enjoyable rehearsal process. Probably the highlight is when the young musicians and faculty sit together, side-by-side in the TMAF symphony orchestra under the baton of maestro Leonard Slatkin.
Taiwan is a magnificent country and aside from our intense work together in the beautifully-located campus of the Taipei National University of the Arts, we also get to see a little of the rest of the country as we travel to perform in the amazing Taiwanese concert halls in Kaohsiung and Taichung. Then we return to our base, Taipei, for our final concert at the mighty National Concert Hall.
I really cannot recommend TMAF highly enough to any young musician wishing to spend two intense weeks rehearsing and performing some beautiful music at a top location with a really fabulous team! I know it’s the highlight of my summer and I can’t wait to return for my fourth TMAF festival this August!
-Kenneth Thompkins / Principal Trombone of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra
TMAF is an extraordinary musical experience bringing musicians together from all over the world. It is incredible to witness the artistic development of the students throughout the course of the festival. TMAF is a wonderful affirmation of our universal connection through music.