Founded in 2024, this unique Reed Quintet was established by five Taiwanese musicians, all of whom pursued advanced studies in Germany and the Netherlands. As one of the most distinctive chamber ensembles in Taiwan, the group embraces the reed quintet instrumentation—a format that originated in the Netherlands, blending the timbres of oboe, clarinet, saxophone, bass clarinet, and bassoon, creating a rich and versatile sonic palette.
Promote classic works
Our ensemble’s repertoire ranges from Baroque transcriptions to avant-garde contemporary works, while also incorporating elements of Taiwanese musical culture. Through carefully curated programs and cross-disciplinary collaborations, we aim to present a diverse artistic identity, where tradition and innovation coexist and inspire each other.
Education Promotion
Our ensemble also hosts masterclasses and music lectures, sharing the beauty and unique charm of the reed quintet with young musicians and music lovers alike. Looking ahead, the group aspires to become Asia’s leading reed quintet, using reed instruments as a cultural bridge, connecting Taiwan with the global music community.
A window for cultural dialogue
We hope that through this chamber music format, we can bring the sound of Taiwan’s reed instruments to the global stage, and make the reed quintet a bridge that connects cultures and generations, resonating across borders.
Meet The Musicians
Eugene Lai
Director/Bass Clarinet
Eugene Lai, a clarinetist-composer from Taipei, Taiwan, is active in performance, composition, and academic research. Proficient in the entire clarinet family, he performs as a guest musician with orchestras and ensembles across Asia and Europe, including the Taipei Symphony Orchestra and Guiyang Symphony Orchestra. His work also extends to theater productions, film scores, and projects incorporating world music.
He has presented his work at events such as the European Clarinet Congress and the Sound of Music Festival in the Netherlands. In 2024, he was selected for the OneBeat residency in Taiwan as an artist and educator. In addition to performing as a soloist, he is a member of Quintette les jeux d'anches, dedicated to expanding the reed quintet repertoire.
Eugene graduated from Prins Claus Conservatorium Groningen, where he studied bass clarinet with Fie Schouten, specializing in low clarinets (basset horn and bass clarinet) and contemporary music. During his studies in Taiwan with Chih-Ning Kao, Eugenia Jin, Pei-Yun Lin, and Ji-Hsi Chang, he won multiple first prizes in the National Student Music Competition for clarinet solo and wind quintet, as well as the Hsing-Tian-Kong Award. His professional development includes individual lessons with Harry Sparnaay, Norbert Kaiser, Joan Enric Lluna, Sylvie Hue, Hans Colbers, Didier Delettre, Lei Fan, Sauro Berti, Florent Héau, Bernhard Röthlisberger, Yehuda Gilad, Francisco José Fernández Vicedo, Mate Bekavac, Céleste Zewald, Joost van Rheeden, Davide Lattuada, Arno Piters, Kilian Herold, Olivier Patey, Lorenzo Iosco, and Ausiàs Garrigós Morant.
Alongside his performance and creative work, Eugene is dedicated to mentoring young musicians and has guided several promising students.
Hsin-Bei Yu
Oboe
Born in Taoyuan, Taiwan, in 2000, Hsin-Bei Yu began her musical journey at the age of three and studied under esteemed teachers Hsieh Min-Guei, Li Ming-Yi, Chen Ling-Lin, Wang Yi-Jing, and Liu Rong-Yi. Her early education included attending Ximen Elementary School’s music program, Zhongxing Junior High School’s music program, and Wuling Senior High School’s music department, before continuing her studies at the Taipei National University of the Arts. In 2020, she entered the Hochschule für Musik Freiburg in Germany, where she earned her Bachelor’s degree in July 2023. She is now pursuing a Master’s degree at the same institution under Prof. Lucas Macías Navarro and Prof. Christoph Hartmann.
Throughout her career, Hsin-Bei has achieved numerous competition successes and performance opportunities. In 2012, she qualified for the 2nd Asian Double Reed Association Competition. In 2018, she was selected for the National Taiwan Symphony Orchestra (NTSO) International Talent Cultivation Program and performed as a soloist with the Wuling Senior High School Orchestra. In 2019, she participated in the NTSO "Rising Stars" Joint Recital, and in 2020, she performed Mozart’s Oboe Concerto with the National Taiwan Symphony Orchestra. Her solo career continued to flourish, as she was chosen as a "Rising Star" by New Taipei City in 2021, where she presented a solo recital. Most recently, in 2023, she qualified for the Sony International Oboe Competition in Japan.
With a solid foundation in solo, orchestral, and chamber music, Hsin-Bei Yu continues to refine her artistry through international training, competitions, and performances, establishing herself as a promising voice in the world of oboe performance.
I-Ching Chen
Clarinet
Born in New Taipei City, Taiwan, I-Ching Chen is a dedicated clarinetist with a rich background in orchestral, chamber, and solo performance. She began her musical training at the age of seven on the piano and picked up the clarinet at twelve. She studied at Chongqing Junior High School’s music program under Lai Yi-Jui and later at Wuling Senior High School’s music program under Prof. Chen Wei-Ling. After high school, she was awarded a full scholarship to pursue her Bachelor of Music degree at the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music (NUS) in Singapore, where she studied with Ma Yue, the principal clarinetist of the Singapore Symphony Orchestra.
Over the past decade, I-Ching has received multiple awards in Taiwan’s National Student Music Competitions in solo, chamber, and orchestral categories. During her time in Singapore, she served as principal clarinetist of the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory Orchestra, performing at major venues, including the renowned Esplanade - Theatres on the Bay. She was also an active chamber musician and a member of Synthe6, a woodwind quintet with piano, which represented the conservatory at various events, including the 2022 “Musical Chairs” chamber music festival at Schulich School of Music, McGill University, in Montreal, Canada.
Beyond performing, I-Ching enjoys teaching, sharing her expertise with young musicians. After earning her bachelor’s degree, she was accepted into Codarts University of the Arts in Rotterdam, where she is currently pursuing a Master of Performance degree. She was also awarded the €5,000 Holland Scholarship, recognizing her outstanding artistic potential.
I-Ching is currently an intern clarinetist with the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra, where she works under Bruno Bonansea, the orchestra’s principal clarinetist. She also specializes in bass clarinet performance, studying with Raphaël Schenkel, principal bass clarinetist of the Bremen Philharmoniker.
I-Ching has refined her artistry through masterclasses with world-renowned clarinetists, including Yi-Chen Chen, Prof. Huang Di, Prof. Song Wei-De, Prof. Yuan Yuan, Julien Hervé, Nicolas Baldeyrou, Vitor Fernandez, Giovanni Punzi, and Matic Kuder. With a strong foundation in orchestral, solo, and chamber music, she continues to expand her artistic reach and international presence as a versatile and dynamic clarinetist.
Chia-Chi Wen
Bassoonist
Taiwanese bassoonist Chia-Chi Wen completed her Master’s degree and Orchestral Soloist Diploma at the Hochschule für Musik Mannheim and the Hochschule für Musik Karlsruhe in Germany. She previously studied at Soochow University and National Taiwan Normal University’s Affiliated Senior High School, learning from Prof. Ole Kristian Dahl, Prof. David Tomàs-Realp, Prof. Jia-Ju Hsu, and Prof. Yi-Fen Kuo.
In Taiwan, Chia-Chi was selected for the NSO Orchestral Academy in 2013 and won First Prize in the University Division of the National Music Competition the same year. During her nine years in Europe, she earned recognition at the Carl Maria von Weber International Bassoon Competition in Poland, and regularly performed with professional orchestras in Germany, Sweden, and Finland, including the Deutsche Staatsphilharmonie Rheinland-Pfalz and Theater Freiburg. She also spent four seasons recording multiple Haydn and Mozart symphonic albums with the Heidelberg Symphony Orchestra.
In the 2021/2022 season, Chia-Chi held positions with the Tampere Filharmonia, Joensuu City Orchestra, and Lappeenranta City Orchestra in Finland. After returning to Taiwan in 2023, she performed with Taiwan Connection Chamber Orchestra and took part in the 15th Anniversary Concert of Jia-Ju Hsu Bassoon Ensemble.
As a rising new-generation bassoonist, Chia-Chi’s career spans both classical and popular music, with outstanding performances across Europe and Taiwan. She currently serves as a member of the Jia-Ju Hsu Bassoon Ensemble, a guest player with the Taipei Symphony Orchestra, and a bassoon instructor at Jingxin Elementary School.
Chi-Chun Chen
Saxophonist / Conductor / Arranger
Chi-Chun Chen is a Taiwanese saxophonist and conductor, currently studying Orchestral Conducting at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam under Ed Spanjaard, Antony Hermus, Bas Wiegers, and Karel Deseure. He previously earned both his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in saxophone performance from the same institution, graduating Cum Laude. During his saxophone studies, he trained under Arno Bornkamp, inheriting the distinguished legacy of the Dutch Saxophone School—a strong foundation that has led to remarkable success on the international stage.
Chi-Chun has led ensembles such as the CvA Sax Ensemble and Art Pondo Saxophone Ensemble, performing across Europe and Asia. He also participated in the Berlin Conducting Masterclass, receiving mentorship from Lior Shambadal and other esteemed conductors. His accolades include First Prize at the Asia Saxophone Competition, Third Prize at the Chieri International Music Competition, and the Best Emerging Young Performer Award at the 5th Jean-Marie Londeix International Saxophone Competition.
In addition to performing, Chi-Chun actively explores cross-disciplinary productions and arrangements. His notable works include saxophone ensemble arrangements of Wagner’s Tristan und Isolde and Philip Glass’s Mishima, demonstrating his bold artistic vision.
As the Artistic Director of the Art Pondo Saxophone Ensemble, Chi-Chun is committed to expanding the creative possibilities of saxophone chamber music, while exploring intersections between music, theatre, film, and social issues. In 2025, he will lead Art Pondo to the World Saxophone Congress, presenting “Land of Tenderness”, an original interdisciplinary production that will mark the ensemble’s international debut—showcasing the depth and creativity of Taiwanese saxophone artistry on the global stage.