A native of Taiwan, Janet Jieru Chen’s compositions have been performed by groups, such as the Luxembourg Sinfonietta, the Orchestre National de Lorraine, the Présence Contemporaine, the American Composers Orchestra, the Eighth Blackbird, the Alarm Will Sound, the VERGE ensemble, the Kochi Ensemble, the Banff Chamber Ensemble, National Taiwan Symphony Orchestra and Taipei Chinese Orchestra.
Chen has won several prizes. She is the first Taiwanese who won the first prize of ALEA III International Composition Competition (2009), other prizes including the winner of Orchestra’s Choice Award, Audiences’ Choice Award, and Second Prize of 2009 NTSO (National Taiwan Symphony Orchestra) Young Composers Composition Competition for Orchestra; ISCM-ACL Young Composers Awards, William Klenz Prize, Judith Lang Zaimont Prize and the nomination for 2007 Taiwan President’s Awards for Young Creation.
Janet holds a PhD in Composition from Duke University and BA and MFA in Composition from Taipei National University of the Arts. Her primary mentors in composition include Stephen Jaffe, Shyhji Pan, and Ting-lein Wu.
Chen not only demonstrates her talent in music composition, but also reveals her superb arts administrative management skill. She is now the administrative director of Canada-Taiwan Music and Arts Exchange and the co-founder of Asian Young Musicians’ Connection, promoting contemporary music and chamber music for the young talents.