In a collaboration between the Taiwan Academy of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States and An die Musik Live, an institute of culture and arts in America, the Trombone Extravaganza Concert (長號嘉年華音樂會) will be held on March 13 at the Capital One Hall in the Commonwealth of Virginia, featuring two exceptional Taiwanese musicians－trombonist Tsai Huai-en (蔡懷恩) and pianist Gwhyneth Chen (陳毓襄)－along with two Israeli-American trombonists, Nitzan Haroz, Shachar Israel, and American bass trombonist Matthew Guilford.
The concert will showcase not only a selection of international classical pieces but also three works by notable Taiwanese composers. The pieces that will be presented include Kao Ying-chen's (高盈真) "Ancient Memory (遙遠的記憶)," the world premiere of Lin Ming-yi's (林明儀) "Air (煩憂)," and Ang It-hong's (洪一峰) "Taiwanese Folk Song Medley (臺灣歌謠組曲)" (arranged by Lin Yun-chao).
Tsai Huai-en, a Washington D.C.-based trombonist, obtained his Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts Degree in Trombone Performance from the Peabody Institute of Johns Hopkins University (JHU) in 2012. He is the third trombonist to receive this degree and the only Asian to achieve this distinction. Currently, he is the principal trombonist for the Pro Arte Chamber Orchestra of Washington and an Edwards Trombone Artist.
Taiwanese American pianist Gwhyneth Chen was a laureate of the Ivo Pogorelich International Piano Competition as the youngest contestant and won the biggest cash prize in the history of piano competitions. During the pandemic, she played in place of many international soloists and received warm responses.