Merrill Hall, MU115
Education
- D.M., Doctor of Music, Fortepiano and Harpsichord Performance, Indiana University
- M.M., Master of Music, Piano Performance, Indiana University
Biography
Hsuan Chang Kitano is adjunct lecturer in fortepiano and harpsichord at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, where she has been on faculty since 2013.
As a producer, Kitano leads the “Cadenza” initiative, a project exploring identity, creativity, and intercultural collaboration through music. Her work integrates diverse cultural traditions with improvisational practices from seventeenth- to nineteenth-century Europe and Asia. Albums she has produced have received recognition including a Grammy nomination for Best Recording Package, as well as nominations for Best Global Traditional Music Album, Best Producer, Best Arrangement, and Best Crossover Album at the Golden Melody Awards. She has also been honored with awards such as Best Asian Flute Recording by the World Flute Society and the Communicator Award for Distinction.
Her versatility extends to composition, with three of her children’s musicals receiving awards from Taiwan’s Ministry of Culture. Kitano’s efforts have also been supported by Zuckermann Harpsichords International, which sponsored her Taiwan-U.S. initiative to promote cross-cultural musical projects.
An accomplished performer on fortepiano, harpsichord, basso continuo, and piano, Kitano has appeared on stages across Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, Germany, Italy, and the United States. She has studied with Robert Levin at Harvard University, focusing on Mozart’s improvisation, and with Elisabeth Wright, Pierre Hantaï, Skip Sempé, and Christophe Rousset. Her artistry has been recognized through awards including wins at the Indianapolis Baroque Orchestra/Early Music Institute Concerto Competition and the Early Music Institute Concerto Competition.
In addition to her musical achievements, Kitano is a freelance curator, bringing her interdisciplinary expertise to exhibitions and projects that highlight the intersection of art, music, and culture. With a commitment to expanding the reach of historical keyboard instruments, she continues to engage a wider and more versatile audience.
Cadenza 21’
https://music.indiana.edu/faculty/bookshelf/cadenza-21-2023.html
Project Cadenzas
https://music.indiana.edu/faculty/bookshelf/project-cadenzas.html