Isoa Chapman is originally from New Zealand where he studied with Jan Tawroszewicz (Warsaw Piano Quintet) at Canterbury University. He subsequently worked with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra, as well as the Auckland Philharmonia.
He left New Zealand to continue his studies with Mauricio Fuks, Isabelle Faust, and Bruno Giuranna, later obtaining his Doctorate from Michigan State University with I-Fu Wang. Isoa also studied with, and was mentored by Dr. Hugh Maguire who invited him to attend the Aldeburgh Festival in Snape Maltings, England.
Isoa has collaborated with many living composers as well as with new music violinist Mark Menzies, saxophonist Geoffrey Deibel, and composer César Potes with whom he performed at the New York City Electroacoustic Festival in 2017. Isoa has appeared as soloist with the Christchurch Philharmonic in the Sibelius Violin Concerto and in his performance of the Beethoven Violin Concerto the Christchurch Press, NZ, remarked on his 'warm lyricism’ and 'excellent poise and control’.
As a music educator Isoa has collaborated with the renowned pedagogue Stephen Larsen (New Zealand) since the 1990’s, and has taught and given workshops/masterclasses at many educational institutions including Drake University, Iowa and Binghamton University, NY. Most recently Isoa has enjoyed exploring diverse and new repertoires through his curating of contemporary music workshops at the Duke University String School.
