Great motivation
Flute student Ai-Yin Chou wins first prize at the Maestrio International Elite Flute Competition in Taiwan
A flute student from Weimar has achieved great success in a competition in her home country of Taiwan. A few days ago, bachelor's student Ai-Yin Chou, who is in Prof. Ulf-Dieter Schaaff's class, won first prize at the Maestrio International Elite Flute Competition.
The 21-year-old beat 67 competitors in her age category. A total of more than 170 musicians from all over the world took part in the competition in Taiwan.
‘I am very grateful and, of course, delighted to have won such a prize in my home country,’ says Yi-Yin Chou, who performed Erwin Schulhoff's entire flute sonata in the final concert.
"I really enjoyed the concert. This success motivates me greatly to continue my work. I would also like to express my sincere thanks to my professor, Ulf-Dieter Schaaff, for helping me prepare.‘
’Ai-Yin Chou's magnificent success in the competition fills me with pride and gratitude," said her flute professor Ulf-Dieter Schaaff about her winning the prize, which is endowed with around 900 euros.
‘It is well-deserved recognition for her highly focused and determined work. With impressive dedication, she has taken on and mastered every challenge. It is all the more remarkable that she has achieved such an outstanding award at the beginning of her 7th bachelor's semester.’
Ai-Yin Chou was born in Taiwan in 2004 and began playing the piano at the age of four. Seven years later, at the age of eleven, she received her first lessons on the flute from Hsing-Fang Wu. At the age of twelve, she transferred to the music class at Hsinchu Municipal Chien Hua Middle School.
The following year, Ai-Yin Chou continued her studies in the music class at Hsinchu State Senior High School with Prof. Yi-Hui Lin. In 2022, she took part in the 2nd International Flute Competition in Tokyo and made it to the final.
After completing her school education in her home country, Ai-Yin Chou applied for a bachelor's degree in Weimar and was accepted. Since 2022, she has been studying at the University of Music FRANZ LISZT in Weimar. During her studies, she is not only actively involved in university projects such as the university orchestra and chamber music ensembles, but also regularly plays as a substitute with the Thuringian Symphony Orchestra Saalfeld-Rudolstadt.
[3 September 2025]