J. Isaac Chua

J. Isaac Chua, born June 14, 1993, is a Chinese-American pianist originally from Manila currently a student at the Eastman School of Music.

He has studied extensively with Hania Kyrcz-Dec, Leonard Richter, and Nelita True in the United States, Lee Kum Sing in Canada, and Andrzej Jasinski in Poland.

He has performed in numerous concert halls as a solo artist and has played regularly in the United States including solo performances in the Kosciuszko Foundation (2008) and Carnegie Hall (2009) and orchestral debuts in Washington (2008) and Oregon (2008, 2009). He has received invitations by the Polish Associations in Seattle (2010), Portland (2010), and San Diego (2010) to give recitals of Chopin’s works in honor of the composer’s bicentennial anniversary. Subsequently, he was invited to give another set of performances during which he played the “Centennial Piano Concert” (2011) of the Polish Library Association in Portland jointly with pianist and composer Ryszard Wrszaskala where the Consulate General of the Republic of Poland in Los Angeles was present. In addition, he has appeared in the Philippines (2008, 2009) and has made plans to return for solo recitals in the local schools of Manila (2014).

Additionally, Chua has also participated in several music festivals, organizations, and is a recipient of numerous piano awards in the United States including invitations from KPBX public broadcast in conjunction with “Musicfest Northwest” where he received the gold medal and the highest award, “Adjudicator’s Choice”, for an unprecedented four consecutive years (2008, 2009, 2010, 2011) while also receiving the “Margie May Ott Scholarship Award” (2011). He was also the division winner/overall-winner of the Mid-Columbia Symphony Young Artist Competition (2008), the Oregon East Symphony Young Artist Competition (2009), and the Inland Northwest Musicians Young Artist Competition (2008). He also won the Chopin Northwest Competition (2009) and, a few months later, won the gold medal at the International Chopin Youth Piano Competition (2009). He has taken part in “The Prismatic Debussy” (2012) in NY, USA, “Szkoła Mistrzów Fortepianu” (2009) and “International Piano Masterclasses” (2012, 2013) in Poland and the “Cassalmaggiore International Music Festival” in Italy.  Recently, he and several musicians in his community got together in conjunction with the the “World Relief” non-profit organization to present a benefit concert supporting refugees living in the area.