A B O U T
J U - T Z O N G - C H I N G
J U - T Z O N G - C H I N G
Ju, Tzong-Ching
Founder and Artistic Director
Founder and Artistic Director
The well-known percussionist, who has played a significant role in enhancing the wide interest in percussion music in Taiwan over the last three decades, owes much of the popularity of percussion music in Taiwan to Ju for his pioneering efforts in music education.
Upon graduating from the National Taiwan Academy of the Arts (now known as National Taiwan University of the Arts), he continued his percussion studies at the Hochschule für Musik und Darstellende Kunst in Vienna with Walter Veigl and Richard Hochrainer, the former principal percussionist of the Wiener Philharmoniker. He was the first Chinese to receive the diploma of Music Performer in percussion in 1982. In 2005, Ju received his Executive Master of Business Administration degree from National Taiwan University.
Upon returning to Taiwan, he served as the principal percussionist of the Taiwan Symphony Orchestra. He founded Taiwan's first percussion ensemble, the Ju Percussion Group (JPG), in 1986. Three years later, the Ju Percussion Group Foundation was formed to manage JPG's administrative affairs. In 1991, he established the Ju Percussion Music School, the first domestically developed percussion education system to promote the percussive arts in Taiwan.
In 1993, he initiated the Taiwan International Percussion Convention (TIPC), which has been held 11 times to date, serving as an important platform for leading international percussion development. In 1998, he founded "Percussion" magazine, and since 1999, he has annually organized the Taipei International Percussion Summer Camp (TIPSC), offering young percussion students a variety of learning opportunities. In 2016, he established the "Ju Percussion Group Laboratory" innovation and incubation project to support emerging percussionists in cross-disciplinary innovation, aiming to create a new vision and development for percussion music.
He has served as the Director of the National Taiwan Symphony Orchestra, the General and Artistic Director and the Chairman of the Board of the National Theatre and National Concert Hall (NTCH), the Principal of Taipei National University of the Arts (TNUA), and the General Director of the Opening/Closing Ceremony for the 2009 World Games in Kaohsiung. From January 2017 to April 2022, he served as the Chairman of the National Performing Arts Center.
For his artistic excellence, he has received numerous honors including the National Award for Arts, the Presidential Order of Brilliant Star with Violet Grand Cordon, and National Cultural Awards. The Percussive Arts Society (PAS) has bestowed upon him the Outstanding Contribution Award and the Lifetime Achievement in Education Award. In 2016, for his contributions and achievements in the art of percussion, he was inducted into the PAS Hall of Fame, becoming the first person from the Chinese-speaking world to receive this honor. In 2020, he was awarded the 39th National Cultural Award for his exceptional contributions in the fields of percussion music, art education, and theater management.
At present, he is the Artistic Director of the Ju Percussion Group, Chair Professor at Taipei National University of the Arts (TNUA), and Emeritus Professor at the National Taiwan University of Arts (NTUA).
Upon graduating from the National Taiwan Academy of the Arts (now known as National Taiwan University of the Arts), he continued his percussion studies at the Hochschule für Musik und Darstellende Kunst in Vienna with Walter Veigl and Richard Hochrainer, the former principal percussionist of the Wiener Philharmoniker. He was the first Chinese to receive the diploma of Music Performer in percussion in 1982. In 2005, Ju received his Executive Master of Business Administration degree from National Taiwan University.
Upon returning to Taiwan, he served as the principal percussionist of the Taiwan Symphony Orchestra. He founded Taiwan's first percussion ensemble, the Ju Percussion Group (JPG), in 1986. Three years later, the Ju Percussion Group Foundation was formed to manage JPG's administrative affairs. In 1991, he established the Ju Percussion Music School, the first domestically developed percussion education system to promote the percussive arts in Taiwan.
In 1993, he initiated the Taiwan International Percussion Convention (TIPC), which has been held 11 times to date, serving as an important platform for leading international percussion development. In 1998, he founded "Percussion" magazine, and since 1999, he has annually organized the Taipei International Percussion Summer Camp (TIPSC), offering young percussion students a variety of learning opportunities. In 2016, he established the "Ju Percussion Group Laboratory" innovation and incubation project to support emerging percussionists in cross-disciplinary innovation, aiming to create a new vision and development for percussion music.
He has served as the Director of the National Taiwan Symphony Orchestra, the General and Artistic Director and the Chairman of the Board of the National Theatre and National Concert Hall (NTCH), the Principal of Taipei National University of the Arts (TNUA), and the General Director of the Opening/Closing Ceremony for the 2009 World Games in Kaohsiung. From January 2017 to April 2022, he served as the Chairman of the National Performing Arts Center.
For his artistic excellence, he has received numerous honors including the National Award for Arts, the Presidential Order of Brilliant Star with Violet Grand Cordon, and National Cultural Awards. The Percussive Arts Society (PAS) has bestowed upon him the Outstanding Contribution Award and the Lifetime Achievement in Education Award. In 2016, for his contributions and achievements in the art of percussion, he was inducted into the PAS Hall of Fame, becoming the first person from the Chinese-speaking world to receive this honor. In 2020, he was awarded the 39th National Cultural Award for his exceptional contributions in the fields of percussion music, art education, and theater management.
At present, he is the Artistic Director of the Ju Percussion Group, Chair Professor at Taipei National University of the Arts (TNUA), and Emeritus Professor at the National Taiwan University of Arts (NTUA).