Donations for Esther's
Solo Performances

Awards & Honors

2010 Emerging Alumni Award from the University of Michigan

Esther receives the 2010 Emerging Alumni Award from University Of Michigan's Department of Theater and Dance. She will also perform her show "So the Arrow Flies" at the venue on Friday, Oct 15.

Acceptance speech @ U of Michigan's Emerging Artist Alumni Award Ceremony

Charles OyamO Gordon, UM Playwrighting Professor and great mentor

UM Music, Theater and Dance Dept. Dean Kendall and other awardees (Michigan Muse p.36-37)

2010 APA Heritage Trailblazer Award

Esther K. Chae honored 2010 APA Heritage TrailBlazer Award by NYC Governor David Paterson

NYS Assemblywoman Grace Meng kicks off the Asian Heritage month in style by celebrating exemplary leadership in different fields, and rewarding five individuals with a State-issued "trailblazers award." From left to right: Taiyo Na (Musician), Esther K. Chae (Actor) Doris Ling-Cohan (NYS Supreme court judge), Bernadine Han (VP of News at NY1/Timewarner) Sang Cho (CEO of Prestige Inc.)

Photos by Ernest Estime

2009 TED Fellowship

Esther was in one of the inaugural 2009 TED Fellows and was invited to the prestigious TED University stage to perform an excerpt of her solo piece So the Arrow Flies.

2009 Tanne Artist Recognition Award

The Tanne Foundation is pleased to announce ESTHER K. CHAE as one of the 5 recipients of its 2009 awards. Now in its eleventh year, the foundation's mission is to underscore the importance of supporting individual artists with unrestricted funding. This year's awards, totaling $32,000, honor the artistic achievement of four artists as well as one organization which has presented exceptional work for over 30 years.

About the Foundation

The Tanne Foundation was founded by an artist in order to enrich the artistic experience and broaden horizons for artists and audiences alike. The foundation's primary interest is in the support of individual artists. Led by a board comprised of a majority of artists, the foundation is guided by the philosophy that in the creation of art, however unrecognized or obscure the voice, the sound may be extraordinary and it is vital that it be heard.

Since its inception the foundation has made awards to fifty-five artists and nine organizations in recognition of outstanding achievements in a variety of fields in the visual and performing arts, including performance art, painting, poetry, music, acting, and dance. Nominations for awards are made by the trustees of the Tanne Foundation. The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests. For more information, contact Michelle Jenney at the Tanne Foundation, c/o GMA Foundations.

Full Tanne Foundation Press Release

2009 Durfee ARC Grant & Asian Women's Giving Circle Grant ("So the Arrow Flies")

This year, Esther K. Chae's SO THE ARROW FLIES has received the Durfee Foundation ART Grant and Asian Women's Giving Circle.

New York City, NY, May 14, 2009 - Now completing its fourth year of grant making, the Asian Women Giving Circle (AWGC) will distribute $70,000 in funding to ten local non-profit Asian American women-led projects in New York City. These outstanding organizations and projects were chosen for their excellence in using the tools of culture, the arts and education to raise awareness and catalyze action around critical issues that impact Asian American communities.

Full AWGC Press Release

2007 Korean Wave (Hallryu) Asia Star Award

Esther Chae has been awarded the "Korean Wave (Hallryu) Asia Star Award 2007" by City of Seoul, Korean Modeling Assoc. and SBS TV Station at the JW Marriott Hotel in Seoul, Korea on January 18th, 2008. It was nationally and internationally televised in Korea, China, Philippines and Japan.

Other Awards

2008 NetKAL Fellowship

2006 Vision Award by The National Association for Multi-Ethnicity in Communications ("Cinema AZN"/International Channel)

2005 AFTRA Best American Scene Award ("Micro Miniseries"/ABC)

2005 Golden Reel Award, Best Radio Play ("Hiroshima"/w Tyne Daly and Ruby Dee)

2001 Ammy Award for Asian Americans, Best Documentary Nom. ("Becoming an Actor in NYC")

2000 Obie Theater Award Nom. ("Pojagi"/Ping Chong and Co.)

Polymathic Artist = Actor + Writer + Thought Leader

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