Faculty

Ricker Chan grew up in Auckland, New Zealand and moved to Hong Kong at the age of 5. He began his piano studies at the age of 6 with a teacher from Beijing’s Central Conservatory of Music. At the age of 9, he moved to Melbourne and soon after he attended the Victorian College of the Arts Secondary School. Ricker made his concerto debut with the VCA secondary School Symphony Orchestra performing Mozart’s Concerto for two pianos in 2009 and the following year gave three performances of Tchaikovsky’s piano concerto No. 1 with the Zelman Symphony, Preston Symphony, and in China with the Ju Jiang Symphony Orchestra.

After graduating from high school, Ricker continued his studies at the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music, completing his Bachelor of Music degree majoring in Piano Performance. He studied under Associate Professor Stephen McIntyre. Ricker frequently wins prizes in competitions and eisteddfods and also received scholarship from the university. Awards such as 3rd place in Japan-Hong Kong International Music competition (2015), two times State finalist in Yamaha Australian Youth Piano competition, 1st in piano solo section in Boroondara Eisteddfod, the Una Bourne Pianoforte Scholarship and many others. He played in Hamer Hall in 2008 for the Top Acts Concert where they chose the most promising performers during the VCE exams season from all around Victoria. He has also played at the Recital Centre and venues around the arts precinct in Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong and Singapore.

Upon completing his Bachelor degree, Ricker moved to Hong Kong to work as a full time Piano teacher at a piano academy for one and a half years. He has taught over 40 students ranging from 4 years old to 25 years old both at the academy and privately. He has helped many of his students receive scholarships when applying for a new school. He also have students achieving high distinctions in their Trinity exams, ABRSM exams and AMEB exams in both piano and theory.

Currently Ricker is studying his Master of Music Studies Degree at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music under the guidance of Dr Paul Rickard Ford and he is also the recipient of the John Dorothy Vimpani Scholarship.