Heng-Ching holds a PhD in Music (2009) from the University of Leeds (under the supervision of Clive Brown), an MA in Music from the Guildhall School of Music & Drama (where she studied with David Takeno and Jack Glickman), and a Postgraduate Diploma from the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire (with Rivka Golani). During her doctoral studies, she received two awards: the British Federation of Graduate Women (BFWG) Scholarship and the Music & Letters Prize (Oxford Journals).
His work, The Twentieth-Century Revolution in String Playing: A Practice-Based Study, was published in 2009. Its translation of Classical and Romantic Performing Practices 1750–1900 Clive Brown's book was published in 2012.
She has been invited to present her work at the ESTA International Conferences (2020, 2021, 2022, and 2024), the International Viola Days in Turkey (2025), the International Viola Congress in Poland (2019), and in Australia (2008). She has also presented papers at conferences such as Performing Romantic Music: Theory and Practice at Durham University (2008), the MIDAS workshop at the Royal College of Music (2007), the MARS study day at the University of Leeds (2007), the Royal Musical Association Student Research Conference at the University of Bristol (2007) and the conference Progress at the University of Manchester (2006). Heng-Ching's research covers a wide range of topics relating to the late 19th and early 20th centuries, including historical performance style and critical aesthetics, techniques for stringed instruments, and recording analysis. Her doctoral thesis proposes an approach highlighting the link between psychology and qualitative methods, exploring the close relationship between theory and practice, with particular attention to the performance styles of Joseph Joachim, Lionel Tertis, and William Primrose.
Heng-Ching has enjoyed a professional musical career in the UK and Asia. She won a prize at the Leeds Chamber Orchestra Soloists Competition; was a finalist—and the only string player—in the Ludlow Philharmonic Prize Concerto Competition; won first prize at the Taipei Western District Viola Competition; and third prize at the National Viola Competition. As a viola soloist, she performed the Viola Concerto with the Leeds Chamber Orchestra, receiving critical acclaim. She has worked as a freelance musician with the Macau Orchestra, the Chiemi Philharmonic Orchestra, the Leeds Baroque Orchestra, the Pacific Music Festival, the Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival, and the London Charity Orchestra, touring the UK, China, Taiwan, Germany, France, Hong Kong, and Japan. She has collaborated with conductors such as Christoph Eschenbach, Valery Gergiev, Colin Davis, Bernard Haitink, Semyon Bychkov, Jaap van Zweden, Edo de Waart, Krzysztof Penderecki, Christopher Hogwood, and Wen-Pin Chen. As a chamber musician, she performed with the LUCHIP String Quartet from 2005 to 2008.
With organist Daniel Gordon, she recorded "Treeness", a work dedicated by composer Nigel Morgan and commissioned by AR Editions in 2008. She taught viola at the University of Malaysia Sabah (UMS) in 2016 and has been leading masterclasses and mentoring chamber music ensembles in Sabah since 2015.
Currently, she is the director of the Selly Oak School of Music and a member of the Birmingham Music Festival committee. She also teaches Sansepolcro summer courses with Alfia Nakipbekova and leads the Scherzo workshop in collaboration with Dr. Claudio Forcada and Verena Lauer. In addition, she regularly organizes and participates in charity concerts to benefit local organizations.
Heng-Ching Fang has been invited as a member of several musical ensembles:
- Pacific Music Festival;
- Schleswig-Holstein;
- Charity London Orchestra;
- Youth and Asian Orchestra…
She has given recitals in Great Britain, China, Taiwan, Germany, France, and Japan under the direction of renowned conductors:
- Krzysztof Eschenbach ;
- Valery Gergiev ;
- Bernard Haitink ;
- Edo de Waart ;
- Krzyszt Penderecki ;
- Ween Pin Chen ;
- Bright Sheng.
Heng-Ching Fang talks about his instrument
I have been able to appreciate the qualities of my viola, made by Yann Besson since 2004. It is a superb instrument with a rich, well-balanced sound. I have played it for numerous recordings and concerts. My Besson viola has never let me down. It allows me to express a wide range of musical styles and emotions. It is a great pleasure to own such a wonderful instrument.
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