Marimba One Artists

Described as an “intrepid percussionist” by Fanfare Magazine, I-Jen Fang has a career as a solo performer, chamber musician, orchestral player, and teacher.  She joined the faculty of the McIntire Department of Music at the University of Virginia in 2005 and as the Principal Timpanist and Percussionist of the Charlottesville Symphony.

As a soloist, I-Jen has performed as a marimba soloist in Taiwan, U.S., Austria, France, Hungary, Romania, and South Africa.  She was also the featured marimba soloist with the Charlottesville Symphony in 2006 and 2010. As a chamber musician, I-Jen has performed or recorded with artists such as Keiko Abe, William Cahn, Christopher Deane, Mark Ford, Mike Mainieri, Ed Smith, Michael Spiro, Nanik Wenton, Nyoman Wenton, Attacca Percussion Group, Bain Percussion Group, Cantata Profana, DaCapo Chamber Players, EcoSono Ensemble, Charlottesville Opera and Victory Hall Opera.  She has appeared in Staunton Music Festival, Charlottesville Chamber Music Festival, Wintergreen Festival, Heritage Theater Festival, Percussive Arts Society International Convention and Regional PAS Day of Percussion.  

An advocate of New Music, I-Jen is currently the director of the UVA New Music Ensemble.  The ensemble has collaborated with composer/improviser George Lewis, flutist Claire Chase, and performed for composers such as Phillip Glass and Christian Wolff.  She has also commissioned and/or premiered works by Jon Bellona, Matt Boehler, Becky Brown, Matthew Burtner, Alex, Christie, Ted Coffey, Kevin Davis, Christopher Deane, Erik DeLuca, Aurie Hsu, Christopher Luna-Mega, Sarah O’Halloran, Chris Peck, Leah Reid, Judith Shatin, Brian Simalchik, Ed Smith, D.J. Sparr, Max Tfirn, Zachary Wadsworth, Kristina Warren, and Michele Zaccagnini. 

Born in Taipei, Taiwan, I-Jen began her musical education at age six taking piano. Taking up percussion at the age of nine, she came to the United States at age fifteen to pursue her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Percussion Performance at Carnegie Mellon University.  She received her Master of Music degree from Northwestern University and her Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of North Texas where she served as a teaching fellow.