Rehearsal before
2015 MTNA National Finals, Las Vegas
2016 MTNA National Finals, San Antonio
with future 2017 MTNA national finalists Jeffrey and Jake
Hear Amanda's arrangements:
AMANDA CHENG
I spent twelve wonderful years studying with Dr. Lam. When I started
learning piano, I did not like it very much, nor was I very good at it. That is why
those twelve years were truly remarkable—they transformed an untalented, unmotivated
musician into a concert pianist who continues to perform and practice to this day, shares
the joy of music with others, attends classical concerts, once page-turned for Mitsuko
Uchida, and most of all—loves music deeply.
As a member of the Princeton Pianists Ensemble, I collaborated with other
pianists to arrange and perform multi-piano, multi-performer works that pushed the
boundaries of traditional piano performance and made classical music accessible to a
wider audience. My five-piano arrangements include Arturo Marquez’s Danzón No. 2
and Richard Strauss’ Don Juan. My two-piano, four-pianist arrangements include Astor
Piazzolla’s Libertango, Invierno Porteño, and Primavera Porteña. Some of these performances
can be viewed here!
Through Dr. Lam’s teaching, I learned the piano not merely as an instrument, but
as an art that required dedication, expressiveness, and excellence. Learning how to play
the piano at such a high caliber was what encouraged and allowed me to continue to
pursue piano long after graduating from the studio; Dr. Lam’s teaching in those formative
years was the key to the entrance of the breathtaking musical world and the individuals
that belonged to it, who encouraged me to develop my appreciation for piano further.
About Amanda
In May 2022, Amanda received her bachelor of arts from Princeton University.
After two years in the mechanical and aerospace engineering department, she
transitioned to studying policy at the Princeton School of Public and
International Affairs on the Conflict and Cooperation Track. She conducted
independent research at the intersection of technology and ethics, including
the efficacy of civil rights organizations in mitigating algorithmic hiring
bias and the political mechanisms that drive ethical behaviors of American tech
giants. Outside of her major, Amanda loves analytic philosophy, and she pursued
substantial coursework in metaethics and normative ethics. Her favorite author is
Derek Parfit, and her favorite areas in philosophy include population ethics, value
theory, and moral objectivity.
Amanda has made appearances at Weill Hall and
Zankel Hall venues at Carnegie Hall, Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center, the Mayo
Performing Arts Center, Richardson Auditorium at Princeton University, Steinway Hall,
the Merkin Concert Hall, the Grace Rainey Rodgers Auditorium at the Metropolitan
Museum of Art, and at venues in Budapest and other U.S. cities. A two-time Mayo
Performing Arts Center Music Student of the Month honoree, other notable efforts
include being a winner in such competitions as the Crescent Concerts Showcase for
Exceptional Young Artists, Cecilian Young Artist Competition, National Young Musician
Showcase Competition, National Chamber and Ensemble Competition, the NJMTA
Young Musicians Competition, the NJMTA Composer Commission Competition, the
NJMTA Spring Recital Audition competitions, The NJ MEA annual competitions, the
Crescendo International Competition, and the Prima Young Artist International
Competition. Amanda and her duet partner, Irene Koc, were national finalists in 2015
and 2016 at the Music Teachers National Association duet piano performance
competitions, winning the state and Eastern divisional rounds in those years.
Her favorite piece is Scriabin’s Piano Concerto Op. 20 in F# minor.