A Ball State University alumna took home one of the top honors in the music industry Sunday.
Angelin Chang, a 1990 graduate, won the Grammy for Best Instrumental Soloist Performance with Orchestra for her performance of Olivier Messiaen's "Oiseaux Exotiques." She played piano on the piece, which was performed with the Cleveland Chamber Symphony.
Angelin said she learned of her nomination from a second-hand source.
"Believe it or not, it was by a departmental memo through my office and I received a message from the conductor," Angelin said. "I had to verify with the Grammy's and see it listed on their Web site before I realized it was true."
First learning piano at the age of four, Angelin made her professional debut at 12 as a piano soloist with the Muncie Symphony Orchestra.
"This was the first time in 25 years a child was a soloist," Chang's father, Teh-Kuang Chang, said. Teh-Kuang is a political science professor at Ball State.
"I am gratified by my accomplishment thus far but also realize that the responsibility I have in doing more, sharing more and passing on what I've been fortunate to receive," Angelin said.
As a professor at Cleveland State University, she stresses the development of each of her students and works to pull from each one's creative artistry,-áTeh-Kuang said,
"All songs are music but Angelin's performance of piano is for world peace and harmony." he said.
Angelin Chang has been playing piano since she was four years old, and at the age of 12 she performed as a piano soloist at Emens with the Muncie Symphony Orchestra.
"In 1981 this was the first time in 25 years a child was a soloist and played 'Mesart D Minor,'" Teh-Kuang Chang said.
Not only did she perform in front of a crowd of 3,000, but while attending Burris High School during her final year she was accepted to Interlochen Arts Academy, the nation's first boarding fine arts high school where she was later selected to perform during commencement, Angelin Chang said.
"I credit my great musical foundation to my music experiences and training at Burris to Dr. John Cooley and Dr. Harold Caldwell," she said.
After dress designer Christine LaPerna and jewelry designer Laurie Warshawsky caught wind of her nomination they offered to make Dr. Chang's attire for the evening.
"I didn't feel right about not having something special to wear and they offered to design something unique for the occasion. This collaboration made the Cleveland NBC news," Chang said.-á
Teh-Kuang Chang said he is proud of his daughter's accomplishments. However, his emphasis is not on the accomplishment but on the passion of the art and what she brings to the listeners of her music.
"She fulfills her-á responsibility-á as a person for the benefit of the world and the people through her music, and they love her and she loves them," Teh-Kuang Chang said.
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