OUR DIRECTORS

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.

Ms. Chen has been Orchestra Director at Arcadia since 2010.

Fun Stuff:

Foil fencer
Lactose intolerant
Star Wars Fan

Follow Ms. Chen on Instagram at @pinchenmusic

Ms. Connie Tu

Assistant Director

As the new Assistant Orchestra Director at Arcadia High School, Ms. Tu is humbled for this opportunity. This is her third year of teaching in the public school setting and she is excited to be seeing students in person and doing what she loves.

Ms. Tu started playing the keyboard instrument at age 7 and had been involved in music ever since. Ms. Tu has appeared as a solo and collaborative pianist in multiple chamber settings with string quartets, woodwind trios and brass quintets. Although her primary instrument is piano, violin has always been her favorite instrument. Her ensemble experiences include playing with the Mt. SAC Orchestra, Chapman University Wind Symphony, and The Chapman Orchestra, where she was featured in the school’s annual Wassail concerts. The concerts were broadcasted on KCET television nationwide.

Outside of school, you can find Ms. Tu playing with her cat, Ray. If not at home, she is probably at a local coffee shop sipping her cold brew.