The School of Music was graced with presence of conductor Finnish Jorma Panula, pianists Liu Hui-ying and Erik T. Tawaststjerna – all from the prestigious Sibelius Academy – and trumpet master Reinhold Friedrich from Germany before the winter break last month.
The guests all gave students one-on-one instructions, as well as concerts during their visits.
It was Prof. Panula’s second visit to TNUA. He is one of the best known conductors of Finland, and an important composer and educator who has trained many talented musicians, including Esa-Pekka Salonen, the Conductor Laureate of the Los Angeles Philharmonic.
Prof. Liu, who was born in Taiwan, and her husband, Prof. Tawaststjerna, are both from the Sibelius Academy’s Department of Piano Music. Prof. Liu also heads the Chopin Society in Finland. They held a concert during their visit along with young Finnish pianist Juho Pohjonen, as well as Prof. Shien-ta Su, Prof. Nancy Tsung and music students from TNUA.
Prof. Friedrich comes from a music family and started playing trumpet at the age of seven. He has won several competitions, such as the Munich Competition in 1986.
He has learned under such masters as Pierre Thibaud Carl Gielow and has made dozens of recordings, ranging from baroque to modern pieces.