Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Monique Chao. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Alright, Monique thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.
My life is a series of adventures and risks. I consider them as the ingredients of my life. When I was 20 something, I made the bold decision to move from Taiwan to Italy to work and study. I was originally just a simple girl who grew up in Taiwan, immersed in classical music, but I gave up everything I had learned in my early years and suddenly decided to study jazz abroad as an ambitious girl.
After graduating with the highest mark in jazz composition from the Milan Conservatory, I boldly founded a jazz big band in Milan, conducting it and managing it as a foreigner, and we have obtained some very important fame and music achievements.
Risk is like an exciting adventure game—it all depends on how I choose to view it.
Now not only I work as a school teacher currently living in Italy, I am also a professional jazz musician, recording musician, producer, arranger and composer who collaborates with several important big bands and orchestras in the world.
Monique, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
“Monique Chao Jazz Orchestra” stands for my jazz big band. We currently play in Italy and we are participating different artistic events also in Italy. It’s challenging to always satisfy the audience by running my original compositions. But I only insist the best and the most innovative music creation.
I also arrange and compose for my clients. I keep 60% of my character in my writing and 40% for satisfying the needs of the music charts of my clients. I believe that selling my authentic creativity is the best way.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
I have founded my jazz orchestra in 2023, after insisting producing with my ability the best album in one year, titled “Time Chamber”. My album has been rewarded by the most powerful global jazz magazine “Downbeat” with 4.5 stars (October 2024.). And in 2025 January, my album has been selected again by Downbeat as one of the best albums in 2024.
The most prestigious Italian jazz magazine “Musica Jazz” has interviewed me with the details of my personal music career.
To me, heading forward with my constant determination and courage was the reason why I have finally received the success as an artist who insists to create.
We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?
I am not so diligent but I am faithful to post my artistic work as reels or posts. For who’s interested of my music, they could easily find the resources on my personal page “moniquechaojazz” as references. So if they wish to collaborate with me, they can always get an idea for my page or take a look of my website www.moniquechao.com
Contact Info:
- Website: www.moniquechao.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/moniquechaojazz/?hl=it
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/Monique-Chao-100008229161147/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCN84_iAErsSim2QA0AI17-g
- Other: Bandcamp https://moniquechao.bandcamp.com/album/time-chamber
Image Credits
Chingyuan Lin, Chris Gao, Arianna Ciattini