Judges

Dr. Patricia Tao

Pianist Patricia Tao has enjoyed a distinguished career as a performer, teacher, and concert organizer. As pianist of the Guild Trio for ten years, she performed widely across the United States and Europe and won the United States Information Agency Artistic Ambassador competition, leading to a seven-country European tour. The Trio served as Trio-in-Residence at the Tanglewood Music Center, where it was praised by the Boston Globe as a “beautiful new landmark” and worked with Leon Fleisher, Yo-Yo Ma, and Gilbert Kalish. With support from Chamber Music America, the Trio established a concert residency at Stony Brook University’s medical school, commissioned and premiered numerous contemporary works, and recorded Sheila Silver’s To the Spirit Unconquered (CRI/New World Records). The Guild Trio also held a two-year residency at the University of Virginia.

As a soloist, Dr. Tao toured extensively throughout the United States and internationally, performing in Europe and Asia. Her performances have been broadcast on National Public Radio, WNYC, WQXR, WFMT, CBC, and public television. She has recorded a solo CD on the Arktos label featuring works by Schubert, Liszt, and Corigliano. For ten years she performed with Trio Voce, recording works by Chopin and Strauss on the Centaur label and two trio recordings on the Con Brio label.

Dr. Tao has served for 17 years as Artistic Director of the Edmonton Chamber Music Society’s Summer Solstice Music Festival. She holds degrees from Harvard University, Indiana University, and Stony Brook University. A dedicated educator, she taught at Western Washington University, the University of Virginia, and the University of Alberta, where she served as Professor of Music and department chair. Now Professor Emerita, she lives in Kelowna and is Artistic Director of Chamber Music Kelowna.