C.V.
CHENGCHENG MA
School of Music
Boston University
Boston, MA 02215
(857) 300-9828
chengchengma.com
I. SELECT RECITALS
Late July/August 2027 — Featured Artist Engagement with the Medtner Society of Korea
October 13, 2026 — Carnegie Hall Debut Solo Recital at Weill Recital Hall
The program will feature works by Prokofiev/Pletnev, Chen Yi, Stella Sung, Rodney Lister, and Nansong Huang including world premieres and the U.S. premieres:
Nansong Huang: Reflections on Dunhuang, Piano Suite for solo piano — U.S. premiere
Mary Lou Williams: Offertory Meditation
Stella Sung: The Persistence of Time for two pianos — commissioned work / world premiere, with Dr.EunAe Lee
Prokofiev/Pletnev: Cinderella for two pianos, with Prof. Boaz Sharon
Chen Yi: China West Suite for two pianos, with guest artist Yimiao Fang
Rodney Lister: new commissioned work, details to be confirmed
June 29 - July 8, 2026 — 2026 Puerto Rico International Piano & Strings Festival in San Juan, Puerto Rico
Performer
May 25-31, 2026 — The 12th Ian Hobson International Piano Festival in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico
Coordinator and Performer
May 2, 2026 — Collaborative Pianist for Trombonist Jingxiao Zeng’s Solo Recital
April 29, 2026 — Performed with the Longwood Symphony Orchestra for A Time to Remember
The Joseph B. Martin Conference Center, Harvard Medical School
April 23, 2026 — Collaborative Pianist for Violinist Chia-Yi Chen’s Solo Recital
April 6, 2026 — Pianist in The Mosaic Series: Music of Marginalized Composers
Booth Lobby, Boston University College of Fine Arts School of Music
Mar 3, 2026 — Performance at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
In collaboration with violinists Gabriela Díaz and Stacie Lin
February 27, 2026 — Lecture Recital: Chia-Yi Chen and Chengcheng Ma
Deciphering the Modern Violin Repertoire
Technical Challenges as Interpretative Guides in Lera Auerbach’s 24 Preludes for Violin and Piano, Op. 46
January 8, 2026 — New York City Debut Solo Recital
Merkin Hall, Kaufman Music Center · FYM Signed Artist Series · New York Premiere of Ketty Nez’s suite française; four-hands performance with Yimiao Fang, together with works by Chopin, Liszt, and Rodney Lister
December 15, 2025 — Boston Solo Recital
First Church Boston
Boston Premiere of Ketty Nez’s suite française and the Boston Premiere of Rodney Lister’s Many’s the Time I’ve Seen Her Nude at the Piano (1990), presented alongside major works by Chopin, Liszt, and a four-hands work by Zhao Zhang (with guest artist Ziwei Xu)
November 14-15, 2025 — University of Mary Masterclass & Recital
World Premiere of Ketty Nez’s suite française for piano solo (2024)
August 18, 2025 — Recital at Hunneman Hall - Brookline Village
https://brooklinelibrary.libcal.com/event/15033356
July 25, 2025 — Recital at Chapel, Arlington Street Church
June 24–27, 2025 — Featured Performances at the 2025 Ian Hobson International Piano Festival, Puerto Rico
May 11, 2025 — Performance at Lehman Hall (Harvard University)
April 29, 2025 — Doctor of Musical Arts Solo Recital, Boston University College of Fine Arts, School of Music, Boston, MA
Presented an all-Liszt recital including the complete Années de pèlerinage, Deuxième année: Italie, S. 161 and Venezia e Napoli, S. 162
March 17, 2025 — Performer, BU Keyboard Department Recital, Boston University College of Fine Arts School of Music, Boston, MA
Program: Rodney Lister, Many’s the Time I’ve Seen Her Nude at the Piano (1990)
February 28, 2025 — Solo Recital, Boston University College of Fine Arts, School of Music, Boston, MA
Program included Couperin, Ketty Nez’s Suite Française, Rodney Lister, and Mary Lou Williams
February 13, 2025 — Faculty Spotlight Concert, School of Music, College of Fine Arts, Boston University
Two-piano duets performance with Prof. Boaz Sharon
August 9, 2024 — ATEITININKŲ SAVAITĖS KULTŪRINIS RENGINYS "FROM THE BALTIC TO THE BLACK SEA"
A concert featuring Lithuanian and Ukrainian music at the Franciscan Monastery, Kennebunk, Maine
May 27, 2024 — Beethoven’s Symphony No.9 for Piano Solo, transcription by Liszt, Special Concert in Puerto Rico
Featured as a special solo recital at the 2024 Ian Hobson International Piano Festival
March 27, 2024 — Boston University Beethoven Symposium Special Concert: Beethoven’s Symphony No.9 for Piano Solo,
transcription by Liszt (BU Tsai Performance Center)
https://youtu.be/A2gjl54Bhzk?si=ycKbiO0zVFkMu2Tk
November 14, 2023 — Boston University Symposium on Beethoven Piano trios (Beethoven “Archduke”, and Schubert Piano Trio in E-flat Major, Op.100)
Presented as part of a scholarly lecture and special concert organized by the Boston University Center for Beethoven Research
May 24, 2023 — Featured Performance at the 2023 Ian Hobson International Piano Festival, Puerto Rico
Apr. 1, 2023 — Collaborative Pianist, Jingxiao Zeng Bass Trombone Concerto Recital, Hope International Church
July 30, 2022, and July 29, 2023 — University of Illinois Summer Piano Institute
Piano Concerto Performances with Sinfonia da Camera, under the baton of Maestro Ian Hobson
July 26, 2022 — Two-piano duets performances with Prof. Boaz Sharon
Sergey Prokofiev / Mikhail Pletnev: Suite for Two Pianos from the Cinderella Ballet
https://youtu.be/D22bUSXav5s?si=JmgOuwBqLqcAIrnh
John Frayne’s glowing reviews from The News-Gazette about the performance at UIUC
May 19, 2022 — Featured Performance at the 2022 Ian Hobson International Piano Festival, Puerto Rico
May 1, 2022 — Concerto Recital, Boston University College of Fine Arts, School of Music, Boston, MA
Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 5 “Emperor”; Ravel Piano Concerto for the Left Hand. Collaborative pianist: Tianhong Yang
2021 — Carolina Shout by James P. Johnson (the 100th year anniversary since it was recorded in 1921)
https://youtu.be/lVQN7wjFfag?si=-qTRoUnnZ-JILgaR
Dec 3-4, 2021 — Two-piano duets performances with Dr. Hyeyoung Song, Weatherford College, Gracepoint Media, TX
2018-2021 — Community Outreach Concerts in Goddard House Assisted Living, Brookline, MA, and Youville Assisted Living in Lexington, MA, clark lindsey village Senior Living in Champaign-Urbana, IL
Nov 6, 2021 — "SEOUL and BOSTON" International recording project funded by 한국장애인문화예술원 국제교류 프로그램 (Korean Disability Arts International Affairs Program)
Mendelssohn Piano Trio No. 1 in D minor Op. 49, and Korean, Chinese chamber pieces
2020 — Thomas “Fats” Waller and other Great Jazz Masters Live Concert (Boston University)
2020 — Interdisciplinary Committee Online Concert Series
2019 — THE GOLDEN AGE OF STRIDE PIANO: Thomas “Fats” Waller and James P. Johnson Live Concert
February 18, 2020 — Boston University Soloists’ Competition Finals, Tsai Performance Center, Boston, MA, performed John Corigliano’s Piano Concerto
November 7–10, 2019 — Concert Artist, George Gershwin International Piano Competition, New York, NY
September 16, 2019 — BU Tsai Performance Center Richmond Winner’s Recital
April 20, 2019 — Collaborative Pianist, Jing Sun Master of Music Recital, Boston University College of Fine Arts, School of Music, Concert Hall, Boston, MA
March 25, 2019 — DMA Chamber Recital, Boston University College of Fine Arts, School of Music, Concert Hall, Boston, MA
Performed Mozart Piano Trio in B-flat major, K. 502 and Tchaikovsky Piano Trio in A minor, Op. 50 with Jing Sun, violin, and Heejo Jeon, cello
March 21, 2019 — Performer, Piano Department Concert, Boston University College of Fine Arts School of Music, Boston, MA
Performed Stravinsky’s The Firebird
December 3, 2018 — Performer, Chamber Music Recital, Boston University College of Fine Arts School of Music, Boston, MA
Performed Tchaikovsky’s Piano Trio
November 29, 2018 — Debussy Centennial Concert #2, Boston University Piano Department, Boston, MA
Performed Debussy’s Estampes
May 3, 2017 — Harpsichord Performer, Baroque Chamber Ensembles, Boston University College of Fine Arts School of Music, Boston, MA
Performed violin and harpsichord sonatas by Heinrich Ignaz Franz von Biber and J. S. Bach
April 30, 2017 — Artist Diploma Recital, Boston University College of Fine Arts, School of Music, Concert Hall, Boston, MA
Performed Beethoven’s Piano Sonata No. 27 in E minor, Op. 90, Franck’s Prélude, Choral et Fugue, and Liszt’s Sonata in B minor
January 21, 2017 — Artist Diploma Solo Recital, Boston University College of Fine Arts, School of Music, Boston, MA
Program included Bach’s Prelude and Fugue in B-flat minor, BWV 867; Debussy’s selected Études; Falla’s Fantasía Bética; Messiaen’s “Regard de l’Esprit de joie” from Vingt Regards; and Stravinsky/Agosti’s The Firebird
2016 — Jed Leshowitz Recital Hall (Montclair State University, NJ)
April 4–8, 2016 — Music-A Braine l’Alleud Piano Masterclasses, Braine-l’Alleud, Belgium
Participated in advanced piano masterclasses organized by Fondation Bell’Arte Music Academy, including a performance at the Académie de Musique de Braine-l’Alleud Concert Hall
February 6, 2016 — Artist Diploma Solo Recital, Boston University College of Fine Arts, School of Music, Boston, MA
Program included Bach’s Partita No. 2 in C minor, BWV 826; Haydn’s Keyboard Sonata in E major, Hob. XVI:31; Stravinsky’s Petrushka; and Chopin’s complete Études, Op. 10
December 9, 2015 — Performer, Student Chamber Concert, Boston University College of Fine Arts School of Music, Boston, MA
Performed Franck’s Piano Quintet
2015 — Downtown Champaign Music Festival (Champaign, IL)
2015 — The Gilmore Keyboard Festival (Kalamazoo, MI)
May 4, 2015 — Artist Diploma Recital, University of Illinois, School of Music, Smith Memorial Hall Recital Hall, Urbana, IL
Performed Dvořák’s Piano Trio in E minor, Op. 90 “Dumky” and Beethoven’s Piano Trio in B-flat major, Op. 97 “Archduke” with violinist Chukyung Park and cellist Haeju Song
October 23, 2014 — Ma–Park–Song Trio Recital, Smith Recital Hall
Program included works by Shostakovich and Tchaikovsky
2014 — Steinman Concert Hall (The Pennsylvania Academy of Music)
2013 — Forbidden City Concert Hall in Beijing
December 3, 2008 — Featured Solo Recital, 2008–2009 Keene Faculty Center Recital Series, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, University of Florida, Keene Faculty Center, Dauer Hall, Gainesville, FL
II. CONCERTO EXPERIENCE
Boston University Marsh Chapel
Nov 22, 2024, Revolutionary Orchestra, Avery Davidson, conducting
Beethoven Piano Concerto No.4 in G major, Op.58
Tina Weedon Smith Memorial Hall (UIUC)
July 29, 2023, Sinfonia da Camera, Maestro Ian Hobson
Mozart Piano Concerto in G major, K.453
https://youtu.be/G_gIei_XkZc?si=Pe6w_poWTmfa-c8B
John Frayne’s glowing reviews from The News-Gazette
Boston University Marsh Chapel
Nov 11, 2022, BU and NEC Friends’ Orchestra, Samuel Chung, conducting
Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto No.1, Op.23
https://youtu.be/wwhqFBSNK_0?si=yycNNRyV6eG_ifcL
Tina Weedon Smith Memorial Hall (UIUC)
July 30, 2022, Sinfonia da Camera, Maestro Ian Hobson
Ravel Concerto for the Left Hand
https://youtu.be/sU1Lt-MR80k?si=R2CHJsobx_PmSMzD
All Saints Parish, Brookline, MA
October 23, 2021, Brookline Symphony Orchestra, Maestro Andrew Altenbach
Mozart Piano Concerto in G major, K.453
https://youtu.be/2m6WClveuKw?si=lcrWEeQ2Po8dDcji
BU CFA Concert Hall
2020, BU Symphony Orchestra, Maestro James Burton
Originally, it was scheduled to perform John Corigliano's Piano Concerto. However, due to
COVID-related circumstances, the performance featured Mozart's Piano Concerto in G major, K.453
Shijiazhuang People’s Hall, Hebei, China
2014, Hebei Province Symphony Orchestra, Maestro Peng Tuo
Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto No.1, Op.23
III. ORCHESTRAL & ENSEMBLE COLLABORATIONS
March 7, 2026 — Longwood Symphony Orchestra
Jordan Hall, New England Conservatory of Music, Boston MA
January 24, 2026 — Boston International Symphony Orchestra
Cary Hall, Lexington, Massachusetts
Mykola Lysenko: Waltz “Розлука / Farewell” (Boston & New England premiere)
Guan Xia: Symphony No. 1 – Overture (Boston & New England premiere)
https://westaracademy.com/lessons/ols/products/boston-new-year-grand-musical-ball-2026
Dec 6, 2025 — Longwood Symphony Orchestra
Performing as a member of the Longwood Symphony Orchestra in the December 6 concert at Jordan Hall, featuring the U.S. premiere of Diana Syrse’s Colección de Realidades — with the composer in attendance — and joining cellist Joshua Roman for Saint-Saëns’s The Swan as an encore
Fall 2025 — Coro Allegro
Piano collaboration under conductor David Hodgkins
IV. COMPETITION & FESTIVAL LEADERSHIP
Dec 20-21, 2025 — Director of the Piano Jury
2026 Sound of Music Australian International Arts Festival (North America Division)
Saint Peter’s Episcopal Church · Cambridge, MA
Competition & Master Series Concert
Dec 10-15, 2025 — Kairos International Music Competition 2025 — Artist Jury
January 30, 2026 — Artist Showcase Concert, Kairos International Music Competition
Falcetti Piano Newton
2284 Washington Street, Newton, MA 02462
V. COMPEPARARY MUSIC
World Premieres
- Stella Sung:
The Persistence of Time for two pianos (a commissioned work and world premiere, to be performed with Dr. EunAe Lee at my Carnegie Hall debut recital on October 13, 2026)
- Rodney Lister:
This Time Next Year (with clarinetist Amy Advocat)
Preface to a Twenty Volume Suicide Note (with baritone James Demler)
Again Later (with soprano Aliana de la Guardia)
Faith-Based Initiatives (an album featuring 21 choral works accompanied by piano)
A new commissioned work for my Carnegie debut concert, details to be confirmed
- Ketty Nez:
suite française for piano solo (2025)
U.S. Premieres
- Nansong Huang:
Reflections on Dunhuang, Piano Suite for solo piano (to be performed at my Carnegie Hall debut recital on October 13, 2026)
2025 — Rodney Lister: Many’s the Time I’ve Seen Her Nude at the Piano (for piano solo)
April 26, 2024 — Time’s Arrow: Milton Babbitt Composition for Viola and Piano (as a guest artist)
https://youtu.be/igrwz_S6QeY?si=dv1mCGD3Rbag4NJG
2023 — Gabriela Lena Frank Concert at Tsai Performance Center
During her Three-Day Residency at Boston University), Piano solo: Barcarola Latinoamericana (2007)
2023 — Recital with Bass trombonist Jing-Xiao Zeng at Hope International Church, Waltham, MA
2023 — Album of choral music by composer Rodney Lister “Faith-Based Initiatives” (Métier MSV 28618)
Released in June 2025: Served as pianist for a recording of 21 choral works by Dr. Rodney Lister, with members of the Church of the Advent under Maestro Mark Dwyer, recorded at Futura Productions in Boston.
October 1, 2022 — Eternal Equinox: Music of Rodney Lister, Boston University
World premieres: “This Time Next Year” (with clarinetist Amy Advocat)
“Preface to a Twenty Volume Suicide Note” (with Baritone James Demler)
“Again Later” (with Soprano Aliana de la Guardia)
https://youtu.be/-J9bwveAj2Y?si=vVOwIO2q49miCVmJ
https://youtu.be/-uKPl7cRElY?si=6KwsK_oNRT09URbN
2020 — Piano Concerto by John Corigliano, winner of BU Soloist (concerto) Competition
BU Tsai Performance Center
VI. JAZZ (PERFORMANCES, RESEARCH AND LECTURE-RECITALS)
St. Louis Blues for Two Pianos by W.C. Handy (1873–1958)
Arr. Fats Waller (1904–1943), Bennie Payne (1907–1978), and Boaz Sharon (A performance with Prof. Boaz Sharon, marks the 100th anniversary of the first recording of “St. Louis Blue” by W.C. Handy, originally released in 1925.)
https://youtu.be/gdzHphezxsE?si=-dqr97kp30uuGozu
HARLEM STRIDE PIANO 1921-1943 recording project in Falcetti Pianos
2021, Springfield, MA
https://youtu.be/Zo7v5gLDve4?feature=shared
https://youtu.be/4I6vYJH40PQ?feature=shared
HARLEM STRIDE PIANO 1921-1943 Lecture Recitals (performing with Dr. Hyeyoung Song)
Dec 3, 2021, Weatherford College (Alkek Fine Arts Center at Weatherford College, TX)
Dec 4, 2021, Gracepoint Media Classics concert series in Dallas, Texas
An introducing of my lecture recital by THE COMMUNITY NEWS (page.5)
https://gamma.creativecirclecdn.com/communitynews/files/20220116-145757-tcn-211203.pdf
HARLEM STRIDE PIANO 1921-1943, Fats Waller Lecture Recital
2025, Boston University, I have also written a research paper initially the focus is on the piano music of Fats Waller and James P. Johnson, and later it will probably expand to the piano music of Willie “The Lion” Smith, Luckey Roberts, Art Tatum, Erroll Garner, and other jazz piano giants.
·
J.P. Johnson: Carolina Shout
· Fats Waller: Carolina Shout, Ain't Misbehavin', Stardust, Keepin' Out of Mischief Now, Hallelujah, Russian Fantasy, Handful of Keys, Rockin' Chair, Honeysuckle Rose, London Suite, California Here I Come, Tea for Two, Georgia on My Mind, Viper's Drag
· Mary Lou Williams: Blues Medley, What's Your Story Morning Glory, For the Figs, Little Joe from Chicago, Offertory Meditation, Somewhere Over the Rainbow
· Erroll Garner: Penthouse Serenade, Play Piano Play, Twilight
· Oscar Peterson: Mirage
· Art Tatum: Ain't Misbehavin', The Shout (Ongoing)
· Fats Waller / Bennie Payne:
St. Louis Blues for two-piano duet
· Fats Waller / Dick Hyman / Ralph Sutton:
Viper's Drag for two-piano duet
VII. COMPETITIONS and AWARDS
2025 — Professional Development Fund Award, Boston University Graduate Affairs
2023 and 2022 — Winner, Concerto Competition at UIUC Summer Piano Institute
Champagne-Urbana, IL (Ravel Concerto for the Left Hand, and Mozart Piano Concerto in G major, K.453)
2021 — III Prize, 6th Paderewski International Piano Competition, Special Online Edition
Category: Piano Masters
2021 — Third Place, Lancaster International Piano Festival Piano Competition Edition
Young Artist Division
2021 — Silver Award, 3rd World Piano Teachers Association Finland International Piano Competition
Category I
2021 — Winner, Brookline Symphony Orchestra Concerto Competition
Selected for Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 17 in G major. Official winner listing published by Brookline Symphony Orchestra
2020 — 1st Prize - The 9th edition of New York Artist International Competition
New York, NY
2021 — Certificate of Achievement from New York State Senate / Senator John C. Liu, recognizing 1st Prize in Piano
2021 — Pi Kappa Lambda Inductee, Pi Kappa Lambda National Music Honor Society, Boston University School of Music
2021 — BU at Carnegie Hall Competition Winner, Boston University School of Music
2021 — Graduate Travel Award, Boston University School of Music
2020 — First Prize in Piano, Manhattan International Music Competition
2020 — Departmental Award in Piano, Boston University College of Fine Arts School of Music
2020 — Winner, Soloists’ Competition (Concerto Competition), Boston University School of Music
Performed Piano Concerto by John Corigliano
2019 — First Prize, Richmond Piano Competition
Awarded $10,000 and a solo recital at Tsai Performance Center, Boston University
2016 — 4th Prize, Hong Kong - Asia Piano Open Competition
Hong Kong
2014 — 1st Prize, KAWAI Asia International Piano Competition
Beijing, China
2012 — Recipient, National Scholarship rewarded by Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China
China Conservatory of Music in Beijing
2012 — 3rd Prize, Asian Chopin International Piano Competition
Shenzhen, China
2011 — 6th Prize, TOYAMA Asia International Piano Competition
Beijing, China
VIII. PROFESSIONAL APPOINTMENTS
2026–2027 — Signed Associate Artist, Global Art & Culture USA Inc.
2026 — Featured Artist Profile, Forte Yearly Music: Cultural Ambassador for the Arts / Artist-in-Residence
2025–2026 — Pianist/Celeste, Longwood Symphony Orchestra, Boston, MA
IX. PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Festival Manager/Coordinator
2026-present
Ian Hobson International Piano Festival, Old San Juan, Puerto Rico
Orchestra Member
2025-present
Pianist and Celesta Player
Longwood Symphony Orchestra, Boston, MA
Piano Instructor
2025-present
The Conservatory at Highlands
Collaborative Pianist
2025
Coro Allegro, Boston, MA
Piano Instructor
2023-present
Brookline Chinese School (Brookline, MA)
Performer
2022, Xi’an Conservatory of Music International Piano Academic Exchange Week
Teaching Assistant of Piano Department
2019-2022
School of Music, Boston University
Piano Instructor, Collaborative Pianist
2017-2018
Preparatory Center for Music, Cali School of Music, Montclair State University
Lead Piano Instructor and Collaborative Pianist
2017-2018
Lyric Performing Arts Center, NJ
Staff Pianist
2017-2018
Golden Classical Music Awards concert series at Carnegie Hall
Music Director, Collaborative Pianist and Organist
2021-2022, St. Clement Eucharistic Shrine in Boston
2018-2022, The Presbyterian church in Burlington, MA
2018-2019, The East Saugus United Methodist Church
2017-2018, The Cathedral Kingdom Living Church
Translator
2017, Renjiaban International Piano Festival at Montclair State University
2017-2021, Lecture-recitals by Prof. Boaz Sharon
Performing Artist
2015, Downtown Champaign Music Festival at the Orpheum Theatre, Champaign, IL
Gilmore Fellow
2015, Gilmore Keyboard Festival, Kalamazoo, MI
Teaching Assistant of Prof. Boaz Sharon
2014-present
School of Music, Boston University
Senior Instructor of Piano
2005-2012
Luomei Boyi Professional Piano Training School, Beijing, China
X. EDUCATION
Boston University
2025, DMA in Piano Performance
2017, Artist Diploma
University of Illinois
2015, Artist Diploma
China Conservatory of Music in Beijing
2013, MA in piano performance
2010, BA in piano performance