Lin Chao-liang
* Born January 29, 1960.
* 8-12 years old: studied with Lee Shu-teh.
* 10: Winner of top prize for youth division in the Taiwan area violin competition.
* 12: Passed the Ministry of Education "Talented Children Test," and went to Australia to study at Sydney Conservatory of Music.
* 14: Entered the Juilliard School of Music, with the renowned violin instructor Dorothy Delay as his teacher.
* 17: Won the 1977 Queen Sofia violin competition in Spain; signed a contract with the well-known ICM company.
* 21: Graduated from Juilliard and began his professional career, doing about 110 performances a year.
* 24: Purchased a 1707 Stradivarius for US$335,000.
Hu Nai-yuan
* Born February 13, 1961.
* 7-10 years old: Studied violin with Lee Shu-teh.
* 11: Went to the United States to study with Yale University professor Broadus Erle.
* 17: Entered the University of Indiana School of Music, studying under Joseph Gingold.
* 24: Won first prize in the Queen Elizabeth international competition in Belgium.
* Currently lives in New York, doing about 30 performances a year.
Hsing Ming-feng
* Born May 28, 1961.
* 10-13 years old: Studied with Lee Shu-teh.
* 13: Studied at the Menuhin Academy in England.
* 14: Played before the Queen of England and President Ford at U.S. bicentennial celebrations.
* 17: Attended the Curtis Institute of Music in the U.S., where he studied with Galamian; won several prizes in inter national competition.
* 21: Accidentally injured the little finger on his left hand; graduated from Curtis.
* 24: Turned to studying conducting; entered the graduate school at Rice University in Houston, Texas, and directed the local Campanile Orchestra.
* 26: Began studying under Mueller in the conducting course at Juilliard.
Shih Wei-chung
* Born September 27, 1970.
* 6-12 years old: Studied with Lee Shu-teh.
* 12: Went to the Juilliard School in the pre-college department; was first violin for three years, and was awarded the Precollege Faculty Award, the highest distinction in the department.
* 18: Was selected by the the National Foundation for Advancement in the arts; won the ARTS first prize; was selected as a Presidential Scholarship Winner.
* 18: Began to study with renowned instructor Dorothy Delay.
Liu Yi-man
* Born August 10, 1966.
* 8-14 years old: Studied with Lee Shu-teh.
* 15: Attended the Manhattan College of Music pre-college class.
* 17: Won first prize in the Manhattan College of Music concerto competition.
* 21: Won first prize in the New York State concerto competition.
* 22: Was invited to perform in Venezuela.
Hsing Ming-feng* Born May 28, 1961.* 10-13 years old: Studied with Lee Shu-teh.* 13: Studied at the Menuhin Academy in England.* 14: Played before the Queen of England and President Ford at U.S. bicentennial celebrations.* 17: Attended the Curtis Institute of Music in the U.S., where he studied with Galamian; won several prizes in inter national competition.* 21: Accidentally injured the little finger on his left hand; graduated from Curtis.* 24: Turned to studying conducting; entered the grad
Shih Wei-chung* Born September 27, 1970.* 6-12 years old: Studied with Lee Shu-teh.* 12: Went to the Juilliard School in the pre-college department; was first violin for three years, and was awarded the Precollege Faculty Award, the highest distinction in the department.* 18: Was selected by the the National Foundation for Advancement in the arts; won the ARTS first prize; was selected as a Presidential Scholarship Winner.* 18: Began to study with renowned instructor Dorothy Delay.
Liu Yi-man* Born August 10, 1966.* 8-14 years old: Studied with Lee Shu-teh.* 15: Attended the Manhattan College of Music pre-college class.* 17: Won first prize in the Manhattan College of Music concerto competition.* 21: Won first prize in the New York State concerto competition.* 22: Was invited to perform in Venezuela.(Laura Li/photos by Huang Li-li and Arthur Cheng/tr. by Phil Newell)