Derek Zhi Guang Chiu

Derek Zhi Guang Chiu is a highly acclaimed Canadian pianist and music educator who has gained international recognition for his work. He is renowned for his versatility as a performer, music educator, clinician, adjudicator, and consultant.

As a performer, Chiu has presented solo and chamber music recitals in Canada, England, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the United States. His orchestral engagements have encompassed performances with the Windsor Community Orchestra, Briercrest College Orchestra, Rockland Symphony Orchestras, The Rocky Mountain Symphony Orchestra, and the Simon Fraser University Concert Orchestra. He has collaborated onstage with esteemed artists such as Saul Bitran, Roberto Cani, Alexander Kaganovsky, Istvan Loga, David Lakirovich, John Lowry, Laszlo Mezo, Sean Wang, and Dara Lynn Zusko.

Chiu is passionate about collaborating with living composers and has worked extensively to bring contemporary music to audiences worldwide. In 2021, he collaborated with Canadian composer Vince Ho on his composition "The Twelve Chinese Zodiac Animals, Book 1." In 2022, Chiu gave the world premiere performance of the pieces in Canada, followed by subsequent performances in Germany, Italy, and the United States. He has also worked with and performed the works of composers Michalis Andronikou and Margaret Boswell-Senyshen, further enriching his diverse repertoire and contributions to contemporary music.

 Chiu has garnered numerous awards and accolades throughout his career, including the prestigious Steinway & Sons Top Piano Teacher Award in Calgary on three separate occasions. His accomplishments in the field of music education have earned him a highly respected position within the industry. Chiu's expertise in online music education was especially highlighted during and after the Covid-19 pandemic, particularly when many music teachers faced the challenge of transitioning to remote teaching. He was sought out by other music teachers looking to establish a virtual teaching presence. Chiu provides personalized consultations to teachers and demonstrates various online programs, resources, and apps that can enhance e-learning. He has also led professional development workshops to assist music teachers in adapting to online teaching.

Chiu is a dedicated piano pedagogue who has conducted pedagogical workshops on the use of technology in the teaching studio, cognitive practice, aural skills development, sight-reading, Baroque performance practice, and music memorization. His academic lectures have delved into the music of Bach, Chopin, Liszt, and Mozart. Chiu has presented at the Colorado State Music Teachers’ Conference, The Colburn School, The University of Windsor, and Lakehead University, among others. Additionally, he serves as a clinician for The Royal Conservatory of Music and has conducted workshops in both Canada and the United States. 

Chiu is a member of the online teaching team at Virtuosity.Online, where the mission is to cultivate curiosity and inspire personal exploration for musicians' practice, shared online. He has led lectures on piano technique, motivating teenagers, and a four-part series on teaching, studying, and performing the keyboard works of Mozart. 

In Calgary, Chiu runs a highly successful private piano studio, where his piano students have earned scholarships to attend undergraduate and graduate music schools. They have also received gold medals from The Royal Conservatory of Music and have won prizes at local, national, and international piano competitions. Beyond Calgary, Chiu is on the Faculty of the Cremona International Music Academy and Festival (Italy) and the Vancouver Island Music Academy. Chiu is sought after as a master class clinician, ensemble coach, and guest teacher.

In November 2013, he was honored with The Odyssey Award by the University of Windsor Alumni Association. The award recognizes alumni who are in the early stages of their career path, having distinguished themselves through successes in career endeavors, notable achievements in their local community, or through significant or innovative achievements in their professional or personal lives. Chiu’s performance at the awards night was praised as a highlight of the event. 

His extensive training includes mentorship with notable Canadian teachers Dr. E. Gregory Butler and Joel Hastings at The University of Windsor. While in Windsor, Chiu pursued additional studies in piano pedagogy with Dr. Thomas Green, Chief Examiner Emeritus of the Royal Conservatory of Music. Under the guidance of Solomon Mikowsky (featured in Benjamin Saver’s book "The Most Wanted Piano Teachers in the USA") and Donn-Alexandre Feder at The Manhattan School of Music in New York, Chiu graduated with a Master of Music degree in 2003. During his studies at the Manhattan School of Music, Chiu was mentored in chamber music by pianist Daniel Epstein of the Raphael Trio and engaged in rigorous studies in Baroque and Classical performance practices with the late Kenneth Cooper, one of the world’s foremost music specialists in the music from those eras. Chiu has participated in master classes in Canada, Europe, and the United States, with artists such as Janina Fialkowska, Robin Harrison, James Howsmon, Lorrin Hollander, Ramzi Yassa, Cecilio Tieles, and Jesus Angel Rodriguez. 

He is an Ambassador for the Royal Conservatory and a member of their College of Examiners. Chiu is also featured on CBC Music’s website, discussing the topic of teenagers and piano lessons. Derek is also passionate about wine, with a particular fondness for French Bordeaux and Italian Barolo. He draws inspiration from the art of Giovanni Antonio Canal, commonly known as Canaletto, Henri Matisse, and his own grandfather, Ng Po Wan. Additionally, Derek is a fan of basketball, enjoying the sport for its blend of strategy, athleticism, and teamwork.

Derek is a Steinway Artist.