Lauded for his recent performance of Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 5 that “...emphasized the melodic, lyrical aspect of the work... It was a beautiful performance...” (The Riverdale Press), Taiwanese-American pianist and composer Shawn Chang has created an international career of distinction. His compositions are marked by their emotive harmonic shifts and rhythmic drive which evoke both the urban and country landscapes of his home state of New York.

As a solo pianist, Chang has given recitals in high profile venues throughout the US, Canada, and his birthplace of Taipei, Taiwan, including Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall, the Kaufmann Hall of 92nd Y, Merkin Concert Hall, the United Palace Theatre, Aspen’s Benedict Music Tent, the Nicholas Roerich Museum, Bohemian National Hall, June Havoc Theatre, and the Taipei National Music Hall. He was recently one of the pianists at the San Francisco Opera’s Merola Program of 2022, where he, along with his duo partner Erin Wagner, won the Schwabacher Debut Recital Audition. He was one of the 2020 Schwab Rising Stars of the Caramoor Music Festival in Katonah, New York. Chang appeared with pianist Steve Blier in a concert of Argentinian music presented by the New York Festival of Song at the Merkin Hall at the Kaufman Center. In October 2019, he was the soloist with The Orchestra of The Bronx in a performance of Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 5 “Emperor”, and in 2018 was featured with the orchestra as soloist in J.S. Bach's Keyboard Concerto. Chang was the music director and arranger for Aya Aziz’s show Eh Dah? Questions for my Father (2016), which was a New York Musical Festival award winner. Recent appearances include a recital with the Naumburg Vocal Competition winner mezzo soprano Erin Wagner at the Carnegie Weill Recital Hall, premierring one of Chang’s own compositions. As a répétiteur, Chang has worked with opera companies such as The Bronx Opera, the Garden State Opera, and OperaRox. 

As a composer, Chang’s compositions have been premiered by the Chromatic Voice Exchange, Schola Sine Nomine, and mezzo soprano Erin Wagner, to name a few. His most recent song cycle, Portraits of Unrelated Colors - six songs that use the seven colors of the spectrum and American landscapes as symbols for various emotional journeys - was featured on NYFOS (New York Festival of Song) curated by director Steve Blier and Baritone Gregory Feldmann. One of the songs from the cycle won the commission prize of the 2022 Sparks & Wiry Cries SongSlam, which led to a commission for their 2023 festival. 

Chang holds a Bachelor of Music degree from the Peabody Conservatory in Baltimore where he studied with Benjamin Pasternack, and a Master of Music degree in collaborative piano at The Juilliard School with Lydia Brown. He is currently pursuing a Doctoral of Music Arts degree at Manhattan School of Music under the tutelage of Kenneth Merrill.