An Inca Indian and a native of Perú, pianist Hwaen Ch’uqi is a world-renowned soloist, recitalist, and chamber musician. He has performed throughout the United States, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Bulgaria, Russia, Taiwan, Japan, and Perú at such venues as Seiji Ozawa Hall, Alice Tully Hall, the Great Hall of Moscow Conservatory, and Philharmonic Hall in St. Petersburg, Russia. He is on the roster of the Northeastern Pennsylvania Chamber Music Society and is co-founder of Duo Q’inti with pianist Emi Okumura and Duo Perussia with violinist Nadya Meykson.

Mr. Ch’uqi’s gifts as a composer of the highest order are being increasingly recognized. In 2009, he, in collaboration with five other composer-pianists, was commissioned to produce a second book – in like manner and structure – of Hexameron Variations. The work was a feature of the 2010 conference of the American Liszt Society. In March, 2012, he was a finalist at the 17th International Piano Duo Composition Competition in Tokyo, Japan. More recently, he has received commissions from the Taipei Civic Symphony Orchestra, the Myanmar Music Festival, the University of British Columbia School of Music, and the Cuzco Symphony Orchestra. He has completed a massive piano sonata, several chamber sonatas, a song cycle, suites for piano solo and four hands, and a children’s musical. He was selected by the New York State MTA to be their Commissioned Composer of 2022, and his four-hand music was used as required repertoire for the Final Round of the 2023 International Piano Duet and Duo Competition held at Ohio University.

Mr. Ch’uqi’s published output includes four CD’s that feature him as composer, interpreter, and improviser. A growing number of his compositional scores is available. As well, he is penning a partial autobiography entitled “The Redemption of Hwaen Ch’uqi”.

Mr. Ch’uqi holds Bachelor and Master of Music degrees in Piano Performance from the Eastman School of Music, where he studied under Natalya Antonova. He quickly distinguished himself as one of the rare pianists to be three times invited as a fellow to the prestigious Tanglewood Music Center; there, he studied with such luminaries as Gilbert Kalish and Leon Fleisher. He was a semifinalist at the Second Sviatoslav Richter International Piano Competition in Moscow and was awarded the Special Prize.

It is Mr. Ch’uqi’s fervent prayer that such music as he is privileged to render might serve as a catalyst for wondrous change in the lives of all who hear it.