Dr. Chuan-Li Ko

Born in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Dr. Chuan-Li Ko graduated from Texas Tech University with a DMA in Piano Performance. He also holds Associate, Licentiate, and Fellowship diplomas (Special Candidate Award) in Piano Performance, awarded by Trinity College London. During his eight years of graduate study in the United States, Dr. Ko studied with several renowned pianists, including William Westney, Daniel del Pino, Norman Krieger, Elizabeth Pridonoff, Donna Lee, Anton Nel, Asaf Zohar, and Marina Lomazov. He was also a recipient of scholarships and graduate teaching assistantships from various institutions, where he taught Keyboard Skills, Music Theory, and Ear Training.

Dr. Ko has performed extensively as a soloist and collaborative pianist in vocal and instrumental settings, including recitals and competitions. His collaborations over the past few years include a charity saxophone-piano duo recital “Soaring over San Francisco—A Musical Voyage” and a piano-flute duo “Il Cantico delle Creature” in San Francisco, United States; “All-Brahms Chamber Recital” in Medan, Indonesia; “Dream of Flowery Pursuit,” his debut collaboration with Chinese instruments at DPAC Malaysia; “Around the World in 6 Hands and 88 Keys” at the National Taichung Theater (Taiwan); “A Feast of Pianistic Wonders,” where he shared the stage with three other pianists alongside the KLPAC Orchestra; “Connecting the Dots,” a percussion-piano duo recital at DPAC (Malaysia); “Music of the Night,” where he was featured as a soloist presenting Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 21; “Rach’d,” a joint recital featuring Rachmaninoff’s piano works and art songs at Esplanade Recital Studio (Singapore); and “The Mikado” with James Madison University Opera (United States).

Recognised internationally, Dr. Ko has served as a juror, performer, and consultant at competitions and festivals, including the Macao International Music Festival 2023 finals organised by the Asia International Music Association, the Sandakan International Music Festival 2024, and the GOCAA Music Festival 2025. He is also the co-founder and artistic advisor of the East United International Music Competition 2025, an initiative dedicated to fostering artistic exchange and musical excellence across borders.

Currently based in San Francisco, Dr. Ko runs a piano studio and performs regularly as both a collaborative pianist and soloist in recitals, concerts, and other special events. His piano studio, “Dr. Ko Piano Studio,” was recently ranked first by BusinessRate with “#1 Piano Instructor in San Francisco (2025).” In addition to his performing and teaching, he serves as a music consultant for Polaro, a technology company based in San Mateo that integrates artificial intelligence into music and arts education. Recently, he was featured in Top 10 of Malaysia magazine as one of the top ten most talented pianists in Malaysia.

In addition to his musical endeavors, Dr. Ko is a Professional Member of MISTA (Malaysia International Sound Therapy Association) and a certified sound therapist specializing in singing bowl healing. Through this practice, he strives to refine and elevate his sensitivity toward sound to a level that contributes to the betterment of society, particularly in promoting mental wellness.