Bio

Houfong Chan is a Macau-born young cellist and performer currently pursuing a Master’s degree at New York University under the guidance of Professor Marion Feldman and Professor Emirhan Tunca and served as an adjunct cello instructor at New York University. He graduated from the Central Conservatory of Music, where he specialized in cello performance under the tutelage of Yichen Yang from the Amber Quartet and received his early musical education from Ms. KuangBao li of the Macao Orchestra. Chan has excelled academically, receiving numerous scholarships including those from the Central Conservatory of Music, the Macau Education and Youth Affairs Bureau, as well as the Music Talent Scholarship and Department Scholarship from New York University.

As a performer, Chan has achieved recognition in various international competitions, including the Second Prize in the Cello Professional Youth Division of the Singapore International Music Festival, Second Place in the Professional Division of the Rocky Mountain String Competition in Canada, Silver Prize in the Professional Division of the North America Virtuoso International Music Competition, First Prize in the Golden Classical Music Awards in the United States, and Fourth Place in the Professional Division of the Beethoven Young Musician competition.

During his studies, Chan has received systematic training in chamber music under professors Gregory Fulkerson, Naoko Tanaka, Jeffrey Swann, Julian Schwarz, Yun Chen, and MengMeng Huang. He has performed extensively both within and outside the university, and has participated in masterclasses with renowned cellists and chamber musicians such as Richard Weiss, David Ying, Phillips Muller, Michel Strauss, Joanna Sachryn, Yu Mingqing, Song Yingxun, and Tu Qiang.

In his performance career, Chan has held concerts at the Dom Pedro V Theatre in Macau and served as the Associate Principal Cellist of the New York University Orpheus Orchestra. He has also achieved great success as the Principal Cellist in performances of the musical “Pippin” and the opera “Idomeneo”. Chan has toured with the China Youth Symphony Orchestra, performing at various venues in Beijing including Peking University and Tsinghua University, and has performed the complete set of Brandenburg Concertos with the chamber ensemble of the Central Conservatory of Music.

In terms of teaching, Chan has previously served as a cello instructor and assistant conductor of string orchestras at Macau YuetWah High School, Choi Nong Middle School, and Fátima Girls’ School.

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