Te-Chiang (Bacco) Liu 劉德強, Violinist
劉德強 6 歲時開始學習小提琴，在1996 年得到台灣全國小提琴競賽青少年組第一名。曾獲得全額獎學金到波士頓音樂學院 （Boston conservatory) 進修，於 2009 年獲得小提琴表演碩士學位。之後到明尼蘇達大學音樂系，在 Young-Nam Kim 的指導下修習博士學位！
劉德強曾以獨奏的方式和許多台灣和澳洲的交響樂團合作演出。此外，他也醉心於交響樂。曾於2009 年，獲邀與波士頓交響樂團(Boston Symphony Orchestra) 於 Tanglewood 音樂節表演。劉德強目前是 Saint Paul 室內交響樂團(Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra) 和明尼蘇達交響樂團(Minnesota Orchestra) 的替補小提琴手。
Violinist Te-Chiang (Bacco) Liu, is a native of Taiwan. Mr. Liu started the violin at age of four, and was awarded the top prize at the Taiwan National Violin Competition in the Youth Division in 1996. Mr. Liu was accepted by the Queensland Conservatorium in Australia to study with renowned Australian Teacher, Carmel Kaine and won all Violin Prizes for two consecutive years. Te-Chiang received a Bachelor of Music in Violin Performance with Honor from Shih-Chien University, and was selected to be the Concertmaster for the National Defense Symphony Orchestra where he performed several state banquets for the President of Taiwan. Te-Chiang was offered full scholarships to attend the Boston Conservatory where he received a Masters Degree to study with Professor Lynn Chang in Violin Performance in 2009. Te-Chiang has been the Concertmaster at numerous orchestra and chamber concerts at the Boston Conservatory and has participated in a collaborative performance with renowned artist Yo-Yo Ma and Lynn Chang, where he was selected to lead the Hememway String Chamber Ensemble in 2009.
Mr. Liu came to University of Minnesota for Doctoral of Music Arts degree to study with Professor Young-Nam Kim with full scholarships. Te-Chiang has been a soloist with various orchestras in Taiwan and Australia. He was also invited to perform in Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, Germany and U.S throughout the years. In addition, Te-Chiang has been an enthusiastic orchestral musician. He was invited to attend Tanglewood Music Festival in 2009 to work closely and perform with the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Te-Chiang is currently the Concertmaster of Southwest Minnesota Orchestra, and also a substitute musician for both Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra and Minnesota Orchestra. He is the founder and the Artistic Director of Southwest Minnesota String Festival, and the first violinist of Meadowlarks String Quartet, the resident string quartet of Southwest Minnesota State University. In addition, Te-Chiang teaches privately, as well as Violin/Viola Faculty at Southwest Minnesota State University.
