Conductor

Yvonne Cheng

鄭瑜英 (Yvonne Cheng) graduated with a degree in music from the Shih Chien University in Taiwan and went to Milan, Italy to pursue advanced vocal study on scholarship at the Giuseppe Verdi Conservatory. She won several important awards at international competitions in Italy, including second prize at the International Competition for Puccinian Voices in Lucca, second prize in the Maria Caniglia Competition, a special prize for staging and interpretation in the Maria Callas Competition, and third prize and "Best Female Voice" in the City of Milan Competition. She made her operatic debut with Paesiello's Idolo Cinese in Milan, and has since appeared in many operatic roles in Europe, and throughout Asia. She is especially noted for her interpretation of Violetta in La Traviata, Gilda in Rigoletto, Mimi in La Boheme, and Liu in Turandot. Ms. Cheng frequently gives solo recitals in Italy, Switzerland, Asia, and the United States. She received a special invitation to perform at the Hong Kong and China reunification concert in 1997 and has performed with the New York Grand Opera at Carnegie Hall. She has an impressive repertoire, encompassing Oratorio, Cantata, Lieder, Chanson, and Chinese art and folk songs. She also twice won first prize in the advanced group at the annual National Association of Teachers of Singing competition, and completed her Master of Music and Music Education degree at Columbia University Teachers College in May 2009. She has been Choir Director of the Fairfield Chapter of The Organization of Chinese Americans since 2013, and has recently been named the Director of the North Westchester Chinese School Choir. She is a resident of Stamford, CT, where she teaches private voice lessons.