Dr. Sin-Hsing Tsai, director of Piano Studies at the University of Tennessee Chattanooga will perform at the 2012 TNAAP Annual Awards Gala. She will be playing 10 Preludes on Argentinean Popular Children’s Melodies by Carlos Guastavino and Suite of Creole Dances by Alberto Ginastera.

The TNAAP Annual Awards Gala recognizes and honors Pediatricians and community members who have made exceptional contributions to child health and child health advocacy in Tennessee. The event also serves as a benefit for the Tennessee Pediatric Society Foundation whose mission is to promote innovative programs to improve the health, safety, and well-being of Tennessee’s children.  The event, scheduled for Friday, includes entertainment, a silent auction, hors d’oeurves and cocktails.

Dr. Sin-Hsing Tsai has delighted audiences in Asia, Europe, North and South America, and enjoys global success as soloist, chamber musician and teacher.

“We are so thankful that Dr. Tsai has graciously given us time between a tour of playing Beethoven Triple Concerto and teaching in the three Chinese cities earlier this summer and an upcoming teaching and performance tour in Argentina,” said Dr. Allen Coffman, TNAAP president.

Her career took off at the age of 8 when she was admitted into the prestigious government program for musically talented children in her native city of Kaohsiung, Taiwan.

Two years later she was named one of the top 10 music students in her country and this honor was followed, among others, by the Performance Award from Jeunesses Musicales Competition (1986), Gold Medal from the Conservatorio Nacional de Musia (1990), Performance Award from the 21st International Young Artists Peninsula Music Festival (1997), and Outstanding DMA Graduate from the University of Southern California (2001).

In addition to her solo recitals and concert appearances, Dr. Tsai has collaborated with the ?nest musicians throughout the world. She is credited with several world premieres of contemporary compositions and has personally worked with composers form Taiwan, Russia, Germany, England, France, Cuba, Argentina and the United States.

A recipient of the artist diploma from the Hochschule fur Musik in Hamburg, Germany, and a doctoral degree from the University of Southern California, Dr. Tsai is among the best-trained pianists of her generation. Her guest teaching has taken her from California to Virginia and from Minnesota to Texas. She is currently the UC Foundation Associate Professor of Music at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. 

“We are thrilled to have such an accomplished musician performing at our Gala,” said Ruth Allen, TNAAP executive director. “Her performance and support takes our event to the next level and her choice of melodies aligns perfectly with the celebration of those caring for Tennessee’s children.”

Honorees include: Dr. Alan Kohrt of Chattanooga, who will be accepting the Pediatrician of the Year Award, Dr. Robert L. Barnes of Knoxville, who will be accepting the Senior Pediatrician of the Year Award and Dr. David Kalwinsky of Johnson City, who will be accepting the Lifetime Achievement Award, to name a couple. A complete listing of award honorees can be found on the TNAAP website. http://www.tnaap.org/EventsMeetings/annualawards.htm

The 2012 TNAAP Annual Awards event will be held at the Foundry at 747 Worlds Fair Park Drive in Knoxville. The event is open to the public by RSVP at the TNAAP website or by calling 615 383-6004. Tickets are $100. Doors open at 6:00 p.m. and the presentations begin at 6:30 p.m. Sponsors include the Cumberland Pediatric Foundation and Monroe Carell, Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt.