Conductor Mei-Ann Chen; photo credit Simon Pauly
Taiwanese American conductor and New England Conservatory alumna and trustee Mei-Ann Chen has been named by New England Conservatory (NEC) as the recipient of the Marylou Speaker Churchill Award. The award acknowledges a teacher and orchestral figure who “reflects Churchill’s qualities as a human being, educator, and musician.” Churchill, who served as a NEC College and Preparatory program faculty member for 28 years and as Boston Symphony Orchestra's principal second violinist for 23 years, was one of Chen’s first teachers in the United States.
Born in Taiwan, Maestra Chen came to the United States to study violin at Walnut Hill High School for the Arts. In the years following, while studying at NEC, Chen lived with Marylou and her husband, Mark. Chen received a violin performance undergraduate degree from New England Conservatory and then became the first student in New England Conservatory’s history to be awarded double master’s degrees simultaneously in both violin and conducting.
Chen will be in Boston on Saturday, March 22, to receive the award. During her visit, she will lead a rehearsal with the Preparatory String Orchestra and Youth Philharmonic Orchestra and will also participate in a conversation moderated by Tonya Robles, NEC's Vice President of Expanded Education.
Click here to read NEC's announcement on their website.
Taiwanese American conductor Mei-Ann Chen is renowned as one of the most versatile, compelling, and dynamic international conductors today. Music Director of the MacArthur Award-winning Chicago Sinfonietta since 2011, Chen also serves as Chief Conductor of Austria’s Recreation - Grosses Orchester Graz at Styriarte, Artistic Advisor of Springfield Symphony Orchestra (MA), the first-ever Artistic Partner of Houston’s ROCO, and Artistic Partner with Northwest Sinfonietta (WA). She has led distinguished orchestras throughout the Americas, Europe, and Asia; over 150 to date.
In the recording field, she has made recordings for Cedille Records, Innova Records, and Naxos. This coming season, Cedille Records will release Black Being, recorded in Chicago with flutists/composers Flutronic and Chicago Sinfonietta.
A passionate advocate for music education, Ms. Chen dedicates significant time in mentoring young conductors through various programs, including the Chicago Sinfonietta Freeman Conducting Fellowship program and the Taki Alsop Fellowship, and conducts ensembles at important educational institutions, both nationally and abroad.
Chen led the Youth Orchestra Camp as Artistic Director of National Taiwan Symphony Orchestra Summer Festival from 2016-2021. She also served as Music Director of the renowned Portland Youth Philharmonic in Oregon (2002-2007). Read her full biography at www.meiannchen.com.
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