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Monique Chao Jazz Orchestra releases "Time Chamber" About "Time Chamber" Compositions 1. Hollow For jazz musicians, the sun, air, and water are the stage. Without the stage, their lives are just empty like a hollow drum. 2. Hyperbolic Time Chamber Inspired by Japanese anime Dragon Ball where the warriors train their ability. Inside the chamber, both time and gravity are different from the outer world. After training, warriors can upgrade directly to Super Saiyans. This song was written during the global epidemic to describe how jazz musicians isolated themselves at home, practicing their instruments. 3. Women and Gravity What if there was no gravity on Earth? Things would float away, also the numbers. 4. Melting City All big cities in the world are like hot, bubbling pot, cooking good and bad, black and white, right and wrong. Do you happen to find them beautiful like I do? 5. Whale Fall After each whale dies, its huge carcass will slowly sink. As it sinks, it is eaten by living creatures and it completes the marine food chain. This process is called “whale fall, ” also known as “The last tenderness of the whale”. 6. Trophy What’s so good about being a teenager? 1) you’re about to start an adventurous life. 2) even if you lose the game sometimes, eventually you will win. Youth is your trophy. 7. Chakra Marching “Chakra” (Indo-European language in India) means “wheel” and refers to your energy points in your body. Chakra in Japanese manga series Naruto refers to a vital component in ninja world. It could be used to perform “jutsu”. 8. Chester Is Boss Chester Bennington (1976-2017), lead vocalist About Monique Chao Monique Chao is a Taiwanese-Italian jazz composer, pianist, vocalist, conductor, and educator, celebrated for her innovative contributions to contemporary jazz. Born in Taipei, Taiwan, she currently resides in Milan, Italy. Her remarkable achievements in music have earned her nominations in several prestigious jazz magazine categories. Among her accolades are recognition as a “4.5-star Album” and “Best Album of 2024” by DownBeat Magazine in the United States, as well as honors such as “New Talent of the Year” “New Jazz Band of the Year” and “Album of the Year” by Musica Jazz Magazine in Italy. In 2023, she became the first foreign musician to represent the annual image of the Tuscany Lucca Jazz Donna Festival. Between 2015 and 2025, Monique has embodied the essence of an inspiring spirit. She is consistently passionate about creating and deeply admires the adventurous journey of exploring music. One article perfectly described her: “Monique Chao, a unstoppable musician who steadily moves forward and nothing could stop her.” (Oct, 2020, Nuove Radici, Italy) Educational Background Monique’s musical journey began with a bachelor’s and master’s degree in classical vocals from the Taipei University of the Arts. Driven by her passion for jazz, upon arriving in Italy, she began studying in Milan, where she earned a degree in jazz piano from the G. Verdi Conservatory. She further distinguished herself by completing a master’s degree in jazz composition at the same institution, graduating with the highest honors (110/110 e lode con menzione). Her thesis featured a 50-minute symphonic jazz orchestra suite titled Formosan Way, a heartfelt dedication to Taiwan. In the same year, she took on the role of student arranger and co-produced a concert at the Milan Conservatory in honor of female jazz composers, titled Il Soffitto di Cristallo (“The Glass Ceiling”). This achievement earned her an interview with Corriere della Sera’s prestigious 27º Ora column, one of Italy’s leading newspapers. Professional achievements Monique has been a prominent figure in the jazz scene, frequently traveling between Taiwan and various European countries to participate in concerts, workshops, and other artistic endeavors. In 2023, she founded the Monique Chao Jazz Orchestra, an 18-member ensemble based in Milan, dedicated to performing exclusively her original modern big band compositions. She regularly performs with the Subconscious Trio and the Monique Chao Jazz Orchestra across Europe and Taiwan. Additionally, she collaborates with various ensembles, including the Monique Tiny Band, Monique Chao Quartet, Chaologists Quartet, Stringsology Trio, and the Subconscious Trio. Monique is also a highly sought-after big band composer and arranger. In her career, Monique composed a piece for the Decatur Jazz Band, led by Jeff Chang in Washington. Their album, Colors, was recognized with the “Outstanding Performance” award by DownBeat magazine in 2024. That same year, she was invited to compose for the debut album of the prestigious Verdi Jazz Orchestra, led by Pino Jodice, featuring saxophonist Emanuele Cisi as the soloist. Since 2023, Monique has been a regular commissioned arranger for the One Song String Orchestra from Taiwan. Awards and Recognition Throughout her career, Monique has received numerous accolades, including: Winner in the Lugano Music Competition as an orchestra composer (2021, Switzerland) Finalist position in Jazz in Sardegna with Subconscious Trio (2021, Italy) Finalist positions in the Barga Jazz Festival as a big band composer and arranger (2021 and 2023, Italy) Finalist position in the Premio del conservatorio di Milano with Monique Chao Quartet (2022, Italy) Finalist position in Jazz in the Park with Subconscious Trio (2024, Romania) Finalist position in Carlo Gargioni Award with Monique Chao Jazz Orchestra (2024, Italy) Finalist position in JazzMi “Jam the future” with Subconscious Trio (2024, Italy) Winner of the One Song String Orchestra commissioned arranger (2023, Taiwan) Winner of the Premio 4e3 at CasmeneFest24 with Monique Chao Jazz Orchestra (2024, Italy) Finalist as One Song String Orchestra Composing Competition (2025, Taiwan) Educational Contributions As an educator, Monique serves as a jazz big band instructor at CPSM, affiliated with the Milan Conservatory, and teaches big band arranging and composing at the Sizhukong Jazz Music Academy in Taipei. Monique Chao’s dedication to her craft and her ability to bridge cultural influences have solidified her reputation as a leading figure in contemporary jazz. |
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