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Ms. Pin Chen
Director
Ms. Pin Chen
Director
Ms. Chen began studying the violin with her father at the age of 6 and has been teaching private violin and viola lessons since she was 14 years old. She graduated at the top of her class with a Master of Music degree in Music Education with a Conducting Specialization at Colorado State University, Fort Collins and received her Bachelor of Music degree in instrumental and general music education with Department Honors from Northwestern University.
Ms. Chen is a former Vice President of Orchestra Education of the Southern California School Band and Orchestra Association (SCSBOA). She is a sought-after guest conductor, including the SCSBOA All-Southern Middle School Honor Orchestra and Beverly Hills Unified Honor Orchestra, as well as an adjudicator for festivals and competitions, including SCSBOA Festivals, Riverside City College Orchestra Festival, and Image International Music Festival.
Ms. Chen is the President and Founder of Crescendo Young Musicians Guild (CYMG), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization for music education, performance, and community service for youth of all socio-economic backgrounds and is a Teaching Artist of the Chamber Music program. Ms. Chen is listed in the Cambridge Who’s Who of Executives and Professionals and is an active member of the Music Teachers Association of California as a private violin & viola teacher.
Ms. Chen is the Sinfonia Orchestra Conductor for the Pasadena Youth Symphony Orchestras and has been a part of the PYSO artistic staff since 2010.
Ms. Chen has been Orchestra Director at Arcadia since 2010 and teaching music in public schools since 2003.
Fun Stuff:
Enjoys fencing and archery
Lactose intolerant. Does not drink coffee.
Star Wars fan
Follow Ms. Chen on Instagram at PinChenMusic
Chenintro.mp4
Ms. Connie Tu
Assistant Director
Ms. Connie Tu
Assistant Director
A native of Taichung, Taiwan, Ms. Connie Tu began her musical journey at age 7 with the electone, performing in recitals and competitions across Taiwan. At 16, she moved to the United States and transitioned to piano, which has remained her primary instrument. She also studied violin as a secondary instrument.
As an active performer and conductor, Ms. Tu has studied and collaborated with esteemed conductors and mentors, including Dr. Janice Park, Dr. Grace Fong, Dr. Johanna Gamboa-Kroesen, Dr. Jacob Sustaita, Dr. Emily Sung, Dr. Tram Sparks, Maestro Larry Livingston, and Maestro Carl St. Clair. Her recent engagements include a performance with the USC Chamber Singers and the USC Thornton Symphony in a concert featuring Beethoven’s Choral Fantasy at the Walt Disney Concert Hall. Additionally, Ms. Tu has premiered a work by Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Ellen Reid as part of the LA Phil’s Noon to Midnight series on her LA Phil-commissioned piece, Oscillations: 100 Years and Forever.
Ms. Tu holds a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance from Chapman University and a Master of Arts in Teaching with a music teaching credential from the University of California, Irvine, where she was the recipient of the President's Educator Fellowship. She is currently pursuing her Doctor of Musical Arts in Choral Conducting with Instrumental Conducting and Music Technology Emphasis at the Thornton School of Music, University of Southern California.
Ms. Tu was awarded the Outstanding Teacher Award from the Arcadia Council PTA in 2023.
Ms. Tu has served as the Choir Director and the Assistant Orchestra Director at Arcadia High School since 2021.
You can reach Ms. Tu at ctu@ausd.net.
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