Biography
Pianist Philip Chiu maintains a profile built on both independent recitals and ensemble partnerships while maintaining a respected teaching presence throughout the Montreal region.
Born in Hong Kong around 1984—Winnipeg’s Classic107 radio station noted in a March 2024 profile that he was “about to turn the corner on 40 years of age”—he relocated with his family to Canada at age three. His childhood unfolded in North York, Ontario, on the outskirts of Toronto, before he later settled in London. Early on he sought to blend into Canadian society, yet he eventually turned toward his roots by interpreting works of Chinese Canadian composers, among them Alice Ping Yee Ho. During adolescence he took on Mendelssohn’s Piano Concerto No. 1 in G minor, Op. 25.
Chiu studied at Toronto’s Glenn Gould School, where victory in the 2005 concerto competition earned him a performance of Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto No. 3 in C major, Op. 26 with conductor Tania Miller; he completed his studies there in 2006. International attention arrived in 2015 when he became the first recipient of the Prix Goyer, whose $125,000 award ranks among the largest of its kind. The next year he made his recorded debut on the Analekta label, joining violinist Kerson Leong for the recital album Bis.
Chamber music dominated his initial professional activity, bringing partnerships with violinists James Ehnes and Bomsori Kim, flutist Emmanuel Pahud, and cellist Raphael Wallfisch. Following the Prix Goyer he began scheduling a greater number of solo programs. Engagements have taken him to leading venues across Canada, the United States, Japan, and France, including a chamber appearance with the La Jolla Music Society during its 50th-anniversary season in California. Beyond Analekta he has documented performances for Leaf Music and for ATMA Classique, issuing the solo recital Voyages in 2024.
In his educational work Chiu founded the Collaborative Piano Program at the Domaine Forget International Academy and has served on the faculties or as an accompanist at the Université de Montréal, McGill University, and the Conservatoire de musique de Montréal.
Born in Hong Kong around 1984—Winnipeg’s Classic107 radio station noted in a March 2024 profile that he was “about to turn the corner on 40 years of age”—he relocated with his family to Canada at age three. His childhood unfolded in North York, Ontario, on the outskirts of Toronto, before he later settled in London. Early on he sought to blend into Canadian society, yet he eventually turned toward his roots by interpreting works of Chinese Canadian composers, among them Alice Ping Yee Ho. During adolescence he took on Mendelssohn’s Piano Concerto No. 1 in G minor, Op. 25.
Chiu studied at Toronto’s Glenn Gould School, where victory in the 2005 concerto competition earned him a performance of Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto No. 3 in C major, Op. 26 with conductor Tania Miller; he completed his studies there in 2006. International attention arrived in 2015 when he became the first recipient of the Prix Goyer, whose $125,000 award ranks among the largest of its kind. The next year he made his recorded debut on the Analekta label, joining violinist Kerson Leong for the recital album Bis.
Chamber music dominated his initial professional activity, bringing partnerships with violinists James Ehnes and Bomsori Kim, flutist Emmanuel Pahud, and cellist Raphael Wallfisch. Following the Prix Goyer he began scheduling a greater number of solo programs. Engagements have taken him to leading venues across Canada, the United States, Japan, and France, including a chamber appearance with the La Jolla Music Society during its 50th-anniversary season in California. Beyond Analekta he has documented performances for Leaf Music and for ATMA Classique, issuing the solo recital Voyages in 2024.
In his educational work Chiu founded the Collaborative Piano Program at the Domaine Forget International Academy and has served on the faculties or as an accompanist at the Université de Montréal, McGill University, and the Conservatoire de musique de Montréal.
Albums
