Recipient of the 2002 Avery Fisher Career Grant, Meng-Chieh Liu first made headlines in 1993 as a 21-year-old student at The Curtis Institute of Music when he substituted for André Watts at the Academy of Music in Philadelphia. The concert earned high acclaim from critics and audience alike, and was followed by a succession of widely praised performances, including a recital at the Kennedy Center and a concert on the Philadelphia All-Star Series; a Philadelphia Orchestra appearance was also scheduled. Already an accomplished artist, Mr. Liu had made his New York orchestral debut two years earlier. The stellar beginning of Meng-Chieh Liu’s career was abruptly halted by a rare and debilitating illness that affected his connective tissues. Hospitalized and almost immobile for a year, doctors believed his chances for survival were slim and, should he survive, playing the piano would be “absolutely impossible.” With arduous determination and relentless physical therapy, Mr. Liu was restored to full health and embarked again on his concert career. During the 2002-3 Season his performance schedule included U.S. appearances in New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Seattle and San Diego. He concertized internationally in Taiwan, Korea, Japan, Bulgaria and Spain. This season Liu will be touring extensively in Taiwan, Japan and Central America in addition to performing debut recitals in Boston and Los Angeles. A dedicated chamber musician as well as solo artist, he has collaborated with musicians in North America, Europe and Asia. Mr. Liu’s creative collaborations include partnerships with artists in varied disciplines. In the year 2,000 Meng-Chieh performed with Mikhail Baryshnikov, who invited Mr. Liu to work with his White Oak Dance Project. Liu’s concerts have been heard over the airwaves around the world, and a biography on his life was broadcast on Taiwanese National Television. Born in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, Meng-Chieh Liu began his piano studies at an early age. At 13 he was accepted by The Curtis Institute of Music to study with Jorge Bolet, Claude Frank, and Eleanor Sokoloff. He has received The 2002 Philadelphia Musical Fund Society Career Advancement Award and first prizes in the Stravinsky, Asia Pacific Piano and Mieczyslaw Munz competitions. Mr. Liu has been a member of The Curtis Institute’s faculty since 1993, the year he graduated. “To me a successful career occurs when one achieves the goal of conveying the essence, beauty and joy of music to everyone. I will continue to share my passion for it with as many people as I can reach.” Meng-Chieh Liu upon acceptance of the 2002 Philadelphia Music Fund Society Career Advancement Award