Rosalind Y. Chua papers (chua)

Biographical note

Rosalind Y. Chua, pianist and professor of music at Providence College, was born of Chinese parents in Manila, Philippines in December of 1942 at the height of the Japanese occupation during World War II.

Her mother, Helen Yap Chua, who was a school teacher had been the musical influence in the family and began Chua's early education learning piano at the age of six. Chua's father, Ramon Y. Chua, ran the family business and was also an artist and a scholar of Chinese literature. As Rosalind's talent grew, she began performing public concerts on the big islands of Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao in the Philippines, and she eventually won the National Piano Competition in Manila at the age of fifteen.

In 1969, she received the "Outstanding Musician" award from the Ambassador of the Republic of China, and in the same year was presented in a benefit concert by Mrs. Fernando Lopez, wife of the then Vice-President of the Philippines. Since then Chua has continued to perform concerts throughout Asia, the Americas, and Europe.

After graduating Grace Christian High School in the Philippines in 1960, Chua attended the University of the Philippines -- majoring in music -- for two years before applying for a scholarship to the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, MA. As a scholarship recipient, Chua went on to earn her B.A. and M.A. in Music at the Conservatory.

Before coming to Providence College in 1976 Chua was the Music Director at St. Mary's College, Peekskill, NY, a music instructor at Smith College in Massachusetts, and the Music Director at Wheeler College in Rhode Island. Chua began her career at Providence College as a one semester fill-in teacher for a piano instructor on temporary family leave. Later Chua was invited back to be a full-time tenure track member of the music faculty. Over the years Chua participated in the growth of the Music Department, expanding the Smith Center for the Arts programing, and easily earned the admiration and respect of both her colleagues and students with her unpretentious style. She was promoted to assistant professor in 1981, associate professor in 1981, full professor in 1991, and served as Director of the Music Program from 1982-1991 and as Department Chair from 1991-1996.

Upon her retirement from Providence College in 2008, Chua and her close friend Jane Stuber established the Rosalind Y. Chua, Mary E. McDougle, and the Jane Stuber Scholarship Fund to benefit music majors at Providence College in honor of their friend Mary E. McDougle who had passed away in 2003.

In addition, Chua's career was honored by the Mal Brown Club, the Greater Providence chapter of Providence College's National Alumni Association, which awarded her The Very Rev. Vincent C. Dore, O.P. Award for her service to Providence College. Post retirement Chua continues to be active within the concert and music world. She is the current (2012-2013) Vice President of the Chaminade Club, a member of the Chopin Club, both based in the famed Music Mansion in Providence, and a Teaching Associate in Music at Brown University.