Audrey Chen, Artistic Director

          Violist Audrey Chen is currently pursuing a professional performing and teaching career, and at the same time, completing her Doctor of Musical Arts degree at Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University in New Jersey, where she studies with Choong-Jin Chang, principal violist of the Philadelphia Orchestra. At present, she serves as principal viola of the Rutgers Orchestra, and as Associate Director of East-West Music Studio in Flushing, Queens.

          Born in Taoyuan, Taiwan, Ms. Chen earned her Bachelor of Music degree at Taiwan National Teacher’s University, and her Master of Music degree and Professional Studies (post-Graduate) diploma at Mannes College of Music where she studied with Hsin-Yun Huang. She was winner of the 2001 Hsing Tien Kong Music Competition in Taipai, Taiwan; and was awarded first place as violist at the 1997 Taiwan Young Artists String Quartet Competition.

          As an orchestra musician, Ms. Chen served a principal violist with The Mannes Orchestra, performing at such prestigious New York venues as Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center’s Alice Tully Hall, and Symphony Space. She was principal violist with The Mannes Opera’s production of Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro under the baton of Metropolitan Opera Conductor Joseph Colaneri. With the Columbia University Bach Society Orchestra, she performed at Merkin Concert Hall. She has also performed with the Dicapo Opera, the Bronx Opera, the New York Asian Symphony, and in Taiwan, the Taipai Symphony and the Taipai Philharmonic. In 2002, she toured Japan with the Pacific Music Festival Orchestra under Maestro Charles Dutoit. In 2000, she toured Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Vietnam, Austria, and Australia with the Asian Youth Orchestra, performing at the Sydney Olympics Opening Ceremony at the Sidney Opera House.

          As a participant in summer music festivals and programs, Ms. Chen attended the 2001 Accemia Musicale Chigiana in Italy, studying with Kim Kashkasian. In 2004, she attended the Centre d’arts in Montreal, Canada at the invitation of New York Philharmonic violinist Micheal Gelbert, and in 2005, she attended the Taos (NM) School of Music where she worked with the Takacs String Quartet. She has also participated in master classes presented by Guarneri String Quartet violist Michael Tree, the Orion String Quartet, and the Vermeer String Quartet.