“...adept at playing many different types of piano literature, having particular affinity for the music of the Classical period, especially that of Mozart, a composer in which he truly understood. Also, his technical mastery of the keyboard allowed him to easily perform the more difficult works of Franz Liszt and Sergei Rachmaninoff.” – Steinway Artist Joel Hastings

“The graduate of the Manhattan School of Music captivated the intimate crowd.” – Medicine Hat News

“Derek is an incredibly skilled and effective online music teacher. His vibrant personality and deep experience as an instructor make his online lesson engaging and productive. He has a top-notch studio setup and a broad capacity for using technology in his teaching. This creates a seamless and
highly successful digital learning environment for his students.” – John Scully, Educational Online Program Specialist - The Royal Conservatory Steinway Artist

 

Derek Zhi Guang Chiu is a highly acclaimed Canadian pianist who is celebrated for his refined sound, vivid musical imagination, and commitment to both performance and pedagogy. In both solo and collaborative settings, he brings clarity, intelligence, and a modern sensibility that reflects
a deep respect for the great musical traditions of the past. His playing honors the depth and discipline of earlier generations while reflecting the curiosity and versatility of today’s artist. A three-time recipient of
the Steinway & Sons Top Piano Teacher Award in Calgary, he is also recognized for his leadership as a clinician, adjudicator, and consultant in music education.
Chiu has presented recitals across Canada, England, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the United States, and has appeared with orchestras in both Canada and the United States. He has collaborated onstage with distinguished colleagues including violinists Saul Bitran, the late Roberto Cani (Concertmaster of the LA Opera), Domagoj Ivanovic, David Lakirovich, John Lowry, Liubomy Senyshen, Sean Wang, and Dara Lynn Zusko; violists Simone Gramaglia (Quartetto di Cremona) and Istvan Loga; and cellists Hannah Craig, Alexander Kaganovsky, and Laszlo Mezo. His chamber partnerships reflect a deep commitment to shared interpretation and expressive dialogue, while his orchestral work demonstrates a keen affinity for color and collaboration.
A dedicated champion of living composers, Chiu collaborated with Canadian composer Vince Ho on The Twelve Chinese Zodiac Animals, Book 1 (2021) and gave the world premiere in 2022 in Canada, followed by performances in Germany, Italy, and the United States. He has also collaborated and
performed works by Michalis Andronikou, Margaret Boswell-Senyshen, and John Stetch, and will premiere a new work by Canadian composer Maggie Lu with the Kensington Sinfonia in their 2026/27
season.
Chiu’s expertise in online music education proved invaluable during and after the Covid-19 pandemic.

He has consulted widely with teachers establishing a virtual teaching presence, led professional-development workshops, and demonstrated programs, resources, and apps that enhance e-learning. A committed pedagogue, he regularly conducts workshops on studio technology, cognitive practice, aural skills, sight-reading, Baroque performance practice, and memorization. His academic lectures have explored the music of Bach, Chopin, Liszt, and Mozart. He has led masterclasses at the Colorado State
Music Teachers’ Conference, The Colburn School, The University of Windsor, and Lakehead University, and serves as a clinician for The Royal Conservatory of Music.

Chiu is on the faculty of the Cremona International Music Academy (Italy) and the Vancouver Island Music Academy, and teaches from a vibrant private studio in Calgary, where his students have earned
scholarships to undergraduate and graduate programs, received gold medals from The Royal Conservatory of Music, and won prizes at local, national, and international competitions. He is also part of the teaching team at Virtuosity.Online, where he has led lectures on piano technique, motivating teenagers, and a four-part series on teaching, studying, and performing Mozart’s keyboard works.
His musical formation includes mentorship with Dr. E. Gregory Butler and Joel Hastings at The University of Windsor, piano-pedagogy study with Dr. Thomas Green (Chief Examiner Emeritus, RCM), and graduate study at The Manhattan School of Music under Solomon Mikowsky and Donn-Alexandre
Feder, where he earned a Master of Music in 2003. At Manhattan, he was mentored in chamber music by Daniel Epstein (Raphael Trio) and pursued Baroque and Classical performance practice studies with
the late Kenneth Cooper. Chiu has also participated in master classes across Canada, Europe, and the United States with Janina Fialkowska, Robin Harrison, James Howsmon, Lorrin Hollander, Ramzi Yassa, Cecilio Tieles, and Jesus Angel Rodriguez.
He is an Ambassador for The Royal Conservatory and a member of its College of Examiners, and has been featured on CBC Music discussing teens and piano lessons. Beyond music, Derek draws inspiration from French Bordeaux and Italian Barolo, the paintings of Canaletto and Henri Matisse, and his grandfather Ng Po Wan. He is also an avid basketball fan, drawn to the sport’s blend of strategy, athleticism, and teamwork.

​