Stephanie Shih-yu Cheng, a Taiwanese-American pianist acclaimed for her captivating performances, has graced prestigious stages worldwide, including Carnegie's Weill Recital Hall, the Dame Myra Hess Concert Series in Chicago, Opera City Hall of Tokyo, National Gallery of Art in Washington D.C., and the National Concert Hall of Taipei. Collaborating with renowned musicians like conductor Leon Fleisher and pianist Sara Davis Buechner, Cheng's artistry has been showcased on esteemed platforms such as National Public Radio, WFMT in Chicago, Radio Video Mediterraneo in Italy, Living & Travel Section of msnbc.com, and Nippon Television in Japan. Critique praises her solo album Ravel: Masterworks for the Piano, on the Centaur label, “Cheng holds herself against all comers in the repertoire: I could just as happily listen to Cheng in Ravel as I could Argerich or Bavouzet.” She can also be heard on the Summit label’s License to Thrill.
Dr. Cheng's musical journey is distinguished by her education under luminaries such as Ann Schein at the Peabody Conservatory, where she received the Rose Marie Milholland Award in Piano, and Gilbert Kalish at Stony Brook University, earning her Doctor of Musical Arts degree. She has further distinguished herself in several international competitions, notably as the recipient of the Prix-Ville de Fontainebleau in France, personally presented to her by Philippe Entremont.
Renowned for her pedagogical prowess, Cheng shares her expertise through masterclasses and adjudication, nurturing a new generation of pianists who have excelled in competitions worldwide. Her impactful experience at respected institutions like the City University of New York and the Manhattan School of Music Precollege, followed by her pioneering role at the American University of Kuwait, where she made history as the first person to conduct a Piano Concerto from the piano, quickly earning renown throughout the Middle East.
Currently serving as an Associate Teaching Professor and Chair of the Keyboard Department at the Lamont School of Music, University of Denver, Cheng continues to inspire students and audiences alike. Beyond the classroom, she serves on the Board of Directors for The Allied Arts, Inc., a nonprofit grant program that supports young artists.
Stephanie Cheng is a Steinway Artist.