Ying-Chen Kao (高盈真) is a Taiwanese-American composer, pianist, educator, and a graphic/web designer. Her music has been described as “exceedingly beautiful” by Soundboard UK, a “challenging and rich work” by the Coral Gables Gazette, and “an evocative and surreal soundscape” on minor7th.com.

Ying-Chen’s compositions have been featured at prestigious events and venues across the globe, including MUSIQA, the North American Taiwanese Professors’ Association, the Taiwan Culture Center in Washington D.C., the Sylvia Adalman Chamber Series, the Union Square Chamber Music Society, The Stone, Ningbo Grand Theater, Hangzhou Grand Theatre, Alishan Township Tsou Nature and Cultural Center, Kaohsiung Music Center, WBJC, and NPR. Her saxophone quartet “Frustration Factory” and solo trombone piece “Ancient Memory” were published by Warwick Music/Hal Leonard Europe. Additionally, her Prix D’Ete-winning work, “Lilac . Star . Bird” for solo guitar, served as the title track on guitarist Tracy Anne Smith’s debut album.

Ying-Chen holds an M.M. and has pursued Postgraduate Studies in composition at Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University. She earned her B.M. in theory and composition from the University of Miami. Beyond her musical endeavors, Ying-Chen also co-founded ycArt design studio LLC, where she actively contributes as a graphic and web designer.

She currently resides in Baltimore with her husband, composer and pianist, David Witmer.

[April 2024]