Dr. Poon Chiew Hwa is a Senior Lecturer at the Universiti Malaya, a music examiner for Trinity College London, and President of the Dalcroze Society of Malaysia. She is a Malaysian pianist and educator who has performed across the United States, Mexico, Spain, the United Kingdom, and Malaysia. Her performances in Arizona and Morelia, Mexico, received critical acclaim, with one reviewer describing her as a pianist “who has the power to communicate her emotions intensely,” while another noted that her performance left the audience “weeping with gratitude and admiration.” Her recent performances include the 2024 piano duo recital Hanging on a Thread in Kuala Lumpur and Muar.

She has appeared as a guest artist and masterclass clinician at institutions including Valley City State University, Missouri State University, the University of Malaya, and Conservatorio de las Rosas. She has also been invited to teach at the MK Nextwave International Music Camp (2026). She regularly adjudicates piano competitions, primarily in Malaysia, with additional experience in the United States and Indonesia.

Dr. Poon is the recipient of several awards, including First Prize at the Missouri Music Teachers Association State Piano Competition and First Prize and the Audience Prize at the Lois Trester Piano Competition, with her winning performance broadcast on Tucson’s NPR station KUAT-FM.

A strong advocate for music and movement in education, she has led creative sessions for children, senior citizens, dementia patients, and school ensembles. Her research has been published locally and internationally. She holds a Doctor of Musical Arts in Piano Performance from the University of Arizona and an Applied Credential in Dalcroze Education from the Longy School of Music.