PHILIP CHIU
PIANO
“Astonishing interpretive and technical proficiency…and he makes it all seem effortless”
- CBC MUSIC
BIOGRAPHY
Renowned for his “pianist-painter” artistry that transforms sound into vivid colour (La Presse), Philip Chiu is recognized as one of Canada’s most distinctive pianists, celebrated for his brilliant technique, poetic sensibility, and captivating stage presence. Winner of the 2023 JUNO Award for Best Classical Solo Album and the first-ever recipient of the Mécénat Musica Prix Goyer, one of Canada’s largest classical music prizes, he has earned a reputation for performances that combine virtuosic mastery with an instinctive ability to create genuine connections with audiences.
A sought-after soloist and chamber musician, Chiu has performed across Canada, the United States, Japan, and France, appearing in major venues and festivals and collaborating with many of today’s foremost artists, including James Ehnes, Emmanuel Pahud, Régis Pasquier, Noah Bendix-Balgley, Bomsori Kim, Johannes Moser, and the New Orford String Quartet. His longstanding duo with violinist Jonathan Crow has become beloved among chamber music audiences, and his commitment to bringing music to communities nationwide is reflected in more than fourteen extensive cross-Canada tours with Prairie Debut, Jeunesses Musicales Canada, and Debut Atlantic.
Chiu’s discography underscores both his deep affinity for the classical tradition and his dedication to amplifying contemporary voices. His JUNO-winning album Fables (ATMA Classique) and its successor Voyages—a tribute to his birthplace of Hong Kong—form part of an ambitious triptych project weaving works by Ravel and Debussy with new commissions from Canadian composers such as Anishinaabekwe artist Barbara Assiginaak and Alice Ping Yee Ho. He has also recorded John Burge’s 24 Preludes for Solo Piano (Centrediscs), Tapeo with cellist Cameron Crozman (ATMA), Night Light with flautist Lara Deutsch (Leaf Music), and a collaboration with Pentaèdre honoring Jacques Hétu. His recordings for labels including ATMA Classique, Warner Music, Analekta, Leaf Music, and Centrediscs are frequently broadcast on BBC Radio 3, France Musique, ICI Musique, and CBC Music.
Authentic, imaginative, and deeply human, Philip Chiu continues to redefine what it means to be a classical pianist in the 21st century—an artist whose performances invite listeners on an emotional journey while affirming his role as both a cultural storyteller and a leading ambassador for Canadian music.
September 2025
REVIEWS
“Astonishing interpretive and technical proficiency…and he makes it all seem effortless”
– CBC Music
« Un soliste qui épate de plus en plus les mélomanes. »
“A soloist who amazes more and more music lovers.”
– ICI MUSIQUE
“Pianist Philip Chiu was elegance personified at the keyboard”
- MUSICAL TORONTO
“Pianist Philip Chiu played with striking precision and subtle poetry.”
- THE GAZETTE, Montreal
“... a pianist-painter who turns every musical idea into a beautiful array of colors.”
- LA PRESSE
" played with such clarity, delicacy and youthful energy that the week’s crises melted into memory and we were captivated... the engaging wit of Chiu and his refreshingly restrained performance –– except for some busy footwork –– of four Rachmaninoff preludes."
- THE VERNON MORNING STAR
PREFERRED CONCERTO LIST
Beethoven
Piano Concerto No. 4 in G Major
Piano Concerto No. 5 in E-flat Major “Emperor”
Triple Concerto in C major, Op. 56
Gershwin
Rhapsody in Blue
Mendelssohn
Piano Concerto No. 1 in G minor
Mozart
Various Concerto
Concerto for Two Pianos
Prokofiev
Piano Concerto No. 3
Ravel
Piano Concerto in G Major
Shostakovich
Piano Concerto No. 2 in F major
Tchaikovsky
Piano Concerto in B-flat major
Recital repertoire available upon request
Master classes and workshops available
Other concerti available upon request
DISCOGRAPHY
Bis
Kerson Leong, violin & Philip Chiu, piano
Analekta AN 2 9160
Live In Montreal
Sibelius, Saint-Saëns, Stravinsky,
Ayana Tsuji, Philip Chiu, Orchestre symphonique de Montréal, Giancarlo Guerrero
Warner Classics 0190295702908
Cavatine
Cameron Crozman, cello and Philip Chiu, piano
ATMA Classique ACD2 2787
Twenty-Four Preludes For Solo Piano: John Burge
Philip Chiu
Centrediscs CMCCD 27319
Tapeo
Cameron Crozman, cello and Philip Chiu, piano
Atma Classique ACD2 2820
Night Light
Music of Yoshimatsu, Joycelyn Morlock, Frederic Lacroix, and Schubert
Philip Chiu, piano, Lara Deutsch, flute
Leaf Music 201-5531
PHOTOS
Photography
Bo Huang (photo 1), Matthew Perrin (photo 2), Brent Calis (photos 3-5)
Click each image to download a hi-res version
