About the Formosa Trio
Tze-Ying Wu, Pei-San Chiu, and Chen-Yu Huang are members of the Formosa Trio. The Trio’s name, Formosa—meaning “beautiful island” and a synonym for Taiwan—reflects the ensemble’s deep connection to their homeland. This dynamic group has performed extensively across the United States, China, and Taiwan, captivating audiences with innovative programs and exceptional artistry.
Dedicated to expanding the repertoire for their unique instrumentation, the Formosa Trio champions both classical and contemporary works. They have collaborated with composers to commission pieces such as Hidden Grace by Grammy-nominated Zhou Tian, Time Flies by Tsung Jen Hsieh, and The Remnant Souls by Yuchun Hu. In addition to premiering new works, the ensemble creates arrangements of classical pieces and Taiwanese folk songs, offering fresh perspectives on beloved melodies.
The Formosa Trio returns to the Urbana campus to present a program featuring music by living women composers, including works by Chen Yi, Libby Larsen, Shulamit Ran, and a newly commissioned by Yu-Chun Hu. As an alum of Illinois, harpist Chen-Yu Huang (MMus, Artist Diploma, DMA) embodies priorities of the 2026 Illinois Leads Strategic Plan to “Integrate and interpret the human experience” and as a full-time Harp Specialist with the Fort Bend Independent School District in Texas as a support of our “internal culture of public service” as “engaged ambassador” of “Illinois impact”.