Pin-Hsuan "Penny" Chen

Biography:

Pin-Hsuan(Penny) earned a Master of Music from Mannes School of Music under the tutelage of Ronald Thomas. She is pursuing her Doctoral of Musical Arts degree at Boston University under the guidance of Professor Michael Reynolds.

Born in Kaohsiung City, Pin-Hsuan began her musical journey at the age of nine under the mentorship of Zhixian Wu. She further honed her craft with studies under Ya-Ru Lian, Ouyang Lingyi, and Yu-Wen Chou, and has been fortunate to receive guidance from numerous masters, including Rhonda Rider, Moky Gisbson-Lane, Julia Lichten, Lluis Claret, Pei-Sian Ng, Timothy Rudy, Qiang Tu, Wen-Sinn Yang, and Suren Bagratuni.

Pin-Hsuan enjoys a distinguished career as a soloist, chamber musician, and music educator. She was invited to join the Asian Youth Orchestra, where she toured with internationally renowned musicians including Steven Isserlis. She also participated in the film “In Search of Perfect Consonance”, which was directed by Ruby Yang, who was the winner of the Oscar award, as well as received a full scholarship fellowship to attend both the Tanggong Music Festival and the Bowdoin Music Festival.

She served as the principal cellist for the Regina Opera, Taipei Philharmonic Youth Orchestra, and Lanyang Symphony Orchestra and participated in the fellowship program at Montclair Orchestra. In the summer of 2025, she was invited to join the cello faculty at the Langyang Summer Musical Festival. She has also given recitals in Taiwan, New York, Boston, Shanghai, Tianjin, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Osaka, and other cities. Additionally, she has served as a cello chamber music assistant for the New York Youth Philharmonic Youth Orchestra and as a cello faculty member at Sharon Music Academy and Growing Music Studio.

Teaching Philosophy:

My teaching combines high technical standards with a deep respect for each student’s individuality. I strive to create a supportive and structured environment where students feel safe to explore, make mistakes, and grow. I emphasize both physical ease and expressive freedom, helping students build solid technique while developing their own musical voice. With experience teaching internationally, I value clear communication, cultural awareness, and fostering confidence through thoughtful, student-centered guidance.

Education:

Boston University: Boston, Massachusetts

Doctorate of Music: Cello Performance

Mannes School of Music: NYC, New York

Master of Music: Cello Performance