Flutesfamily (Taichung, TAIWAN)

Flutesfamily is made up of: Hsieh Chih-Wei (husband), Liao Wei-Chi (leader), Hsieh I-Shan (daughter), and Hsieh Cheng-Yen (son). Flutesfamily has a rich performance experience, in 2018, they were invited to perform chamber music at the Singapore Flute Festival, where Hsieh Chih-Wei was also invited to direct the Children’s Flute Ensemble.

Hsieh Chih-Wei graduated from the Victorian College of the Arts in Melbourne, Australia, while Liao Wei-Chi holds the highest flute diploma from the Royal Academy of Music in the UK, along with multiple Orff music education certificates. These two musicians have been deeply involved in music education in Nantou, Taiwan, and have formed Taiwan’s only all-family flute chamber ensemble. They regularly hold concerts around the world including Germany, the Netherlands, Northern Europe, Japan, and Singapore.

For over 20 years, both teachers have been dedicated to flute music education in Puli Township, Taiwan. They begin music instruction with the Shining Piper, a flute-like instrument invented in Taiwan, designed for young children starting from kindergarten. As students advance, they learn to play the flute, and engage in flute duets, trios, and chamber ensembles. Through numerous chamber music concerts, they foster a love for flute performance among their students by emphasizing the joy of ensemble collaboration.

Students in the ensemble also have the opportunity to play alto flutes, bass flutes, and contrabass flutes, providing them with a rare chance to explore the broader flute family. To enhance their performances, Hsieh Chih-Wei collaborates with contemporary composers from Taiwan, Germany, and the UK to create original compositions for the ensemble. These include fresh and fun new works, challenging pieces inspired by classical music, and grand orchestral arrangements of movie themes. This not only supports contemporary composers in showcasing their new works but also enriches the ensemble’s repertoire, making their performances diverse and captivating.
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Hsieh Chih-Wei conducts the Flutesfamily Ensemble, which has been invited to events such as the 2018 Singapore Flute Festival, the 2022 Taipei Flute Carnival, the 2024 Taipei Flute Festival, and the Japan Isumi Summer Festival. Their recent goal has been to perform, travel, and share music together as a family, bringing their music beyond Taiwan and sharing the joy of ensemble playing with the world. This allows children learning the flute to experience the fun and excitement of playing in a flute symphony orchestra.