One of the most prominent conductors in Taiwan, Chih-Sheng Chen founded the Little Giant
Chinese Chamber Orchestra (gCO) in 2000. Acting as the artistic director and conductor, the
orchestra strikes to present Chinese music of the highest quality to a wide range of audiences.
Chen has produced/conducted close to one thousand concerts, including the orchestra’s
national and international tours and a full season at Taiwan’s National Concert Hall. He also
presents educational programs throughout Taiwan, and collaborates with various
organizations. Under his leadership, the Little Giant Chinese Chamber Orchestra was
nominated by the Taishin Arts Awards for the Best Performing Arts category in Taiwan 2011.
　
Chen is active on the international stage as a conductor, educator, and arts administrator,
crossing between the disciplines of Chinese music, cross-cultural music, and western
contemporary music, and in both orchestral and chamber music settings. He has been a guest
conductor in Europe (Atlas Ensemble, Amsterdam), Canada (Sound of Dragon Ensemble,
Vancouver Inter-Cultural Orchestra, Toronto Chinese Orchestra, Edmonton Chinese
Orchestra, BC Chinese Orchestra, BC Chinese Ensemble, Dim Sum Ensemble); China
(Zhejiang Song and Dance Theatre Chinese Orchestra, Heilongjiang Song and Dance Theatre
Chinese Orchestra, Shenfeng Ensemble of Beijing Central Conservatory, Henan Ping Ding
Mountain Chinese Orchestra, and Beijing, Chongqing, Chengdu, Fujian, Zhejiang, Jiangsu,
Henan, Guangdong, Jilin Chinese Orchestra), South Asia (Singapore Ding Yi Orchestra), and
Taiwan (Quanta Philharmonic Orchestra, Evergreen Symphony, Taiwan Chinese Orchestra,
Kaoshiung Chinese Orchestra). He has been frequently invited to conduct the ensembles at
various universities and schools throughout China, including the Central Conservatory of
Music in Beijing. From 2004 to 2008, Chen was the Associate Conductor of the Taipei
Chinese Youth Orchestra and Teachers Orchestra. He was the executive director of the
Quanta Philharmonic Orchestra. In addition, Chen gives lectures and master classes on arts
administration, ensemble training, and orchestral development.
　
Chen holds a master degree in conducting from Taiwan’s Fu Jen Catholic University, under
the guidance of professor Lian-Chang Kuo. He started his musical training as an erhu
(Chinese violin) player at the age of ten. He studied conducting with Ying Lee, and theory
with Chao-ying Huang and Shi-Pei Ding. At the same time, Chen holds a Ph. D from the
Institute of Microbiology and Biochemistry of the National Taiwan University. His solid
musical trainings, many years of performance experiences, knowledge of diverse genres and
styles, and organizational skills from his science background all contribute to his success in
building and managing one of the largest and most active Chinese orchestras in the world.
“Chinese music is my true calling in life,” he says.