Jean Chay
Pipa Faculty
Jean Chay is a Pipa soloist and multi-instrumentalist whose captivating musical journey began at age six, She initially studied the Piano for which she attained the highest ABRSM level Grade 8, and the Violin. However, it was the dynamic expressions of the Pipa – from tranquil harmonics and soothing melodies to powerful glissandos – that truly captured her heart and ignited a profound passion, drawing her into its rich tapestry of traditional Chinese melodies and contemporary interpretations.
Her exceptional talent has been consistently recognized through numerous accolades. These include winning 1st place for Pipa in the highly competitive 1998 Singapore National Chinese Music Competition (Combined Solo Pipa/Solo Dizi/Solo Yangqin), and 2nd Prize in the 2000 Singapore National Chinese Music Competition (Solo Pipa).
Her artistic development was further catalysed when she had the invaluable opportunity to learn from the world-renowned pipa virtuoso, Liu Dehai. This experience helped deepen her connection to the instrument, shaping her style and maturity in performance.
Ms. Chay has extensive experience performing in orchestras, enchanting audiences in major cities including San Francisco, Singapore, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Nanjing and Shanghai. Beginning from high school, she played in the Dunman High School Chinese Orchestra, the most established school chinese orchestra in Singapore, which has won the Gold Award at every Singapore Youth Festival. In junior college, she was Concertmaster of the string ensemble where she played the violin, leading the ensemble to win the Gold Award at the Singapore Youth Festival. After she graduated, she joined the City Chinese Orchestra, Singapore’s founding Chinese Orchestra with an astounding legacy. She has performed alongside world-class musicians including Liu Dehai, Min Huifen and Zheng Xulan.
Ms. Chay moved to the Bay Area in 2011 and has continued to pursue her passion in music. She values the diverse landscape here in the Bay Area and wants the beauty of traditional chinese music to strike a chord with the broader audience. In 2012 and 2013, she was a recurring guest star at Dan Chan's Bay Area Dinner Show, performing at corporate events and celebrations. Other notable highlights in the US include collaborating with the California Chinese Orchestra and local Cantonese Opera Troupe, and opening for the Giants Game on their Chinese Heritage Night. Ms. Chay currently serves as instructor at NACYO and is known for her dedication to technicality and connection with her students.
琵琶导师 – 谢老师 (Jean Chay)
谢老师 (Jean Chay) 是一位琵琶独奏家及多乐器演奏家，她迷人的音乐之旅始于六岁。她最初学习钢琴并获得了英国皇家音乐学院联合委员会 (ABRSM) 的最高级别八级证书，同时学习小提琴。然而，琵琶那充满活力的表现力，从宁静的泛音、舒缓的旋律到强劲的扫弦，点燃了她对音乐的深厚热情，将她带入了传统中国旋律和现代诠释的丰富画卷中。
她卓越的才华一直得到认可，并获得了无数荣誉，包括在竞争激烈的 1998年新加坡全国华乐比赛中获得琵琶第一名 (组合独奏琵琶/独奏笛子/独奏扬琴)，以及在 2000年新加坡全国华乐比赛中获得琵琶独奏第二名。
她艺术发展的进一步提升得益于与世界知名琵琶演奏家刘德海学习的宝贵机会。这次经历加深了她对自己与乐器之间的认知，塑造了她的演奏风格和成熟度。
谢老师拥有丰富的乐队演奏经验，在包括旧金山、新加坡、广州、深圳、南京和上海在内的主要城市为观众带来了精彩的表演。高中时期，她加入了新加坡最负盛名的学校华乐团——德明政府中学华乐团，该乐团在每届新加坡青年节都荣获金奖。在初级学院期间，她担任弦乐团的首席小提琴手，并带领乐团在新加坡青年节获得了金奖。毕业后，她加入了新加坡历史悠久且拥有卓越传承的狮城华乐团。她曾与刘德海、闵惠芬、郑秀兰等世界级音乐家同台演出。
谢老师于2011年移居湾区，并继续追求她的音乐热情。她珍视湾区多元的文化景观，并希望传统中国音乐的美能与更广泛的观众产生共鸣。2012年和2013年，她作为常驻特邀嘉宾出演 “Dan Chan 湾区晚宴秀”，在公司活动和庆典上表演。在美国的其他显著亮点包括与加州华乐团和当地粤剧团的合作，以及在巨人队中国文化之夜的开场表演。谢老师目前担任NACYO的琵琶导师。