Chi Chen

Cello
Written By Ben Richard

Instruments taught: Cello

Styles taught: Classical, Suzuki Method, Improvisation, Composition, Pop, Holistic Cello Lessons

Based in: Los Altos

Teaching style: Chi teaches Holistic Cello Lessons. Trained in New York City as both a cellist and a designer who has performed at Carnegie Hall, she has been teaching holistic, creative cello lessons at her artistic cottage studio in Los Altos for over 20 years. Besides weekly one-on-one private lessons, she offers “monthly” group classes as part of her “cello semester” system.

Biography: Chi Chen- Cellist, Composer, Improviser & Educator
Performing with a graceful and powerful presence, Chi Chen plays her own compositions, improvisations, and classical and contemporary repertory.

 A popular cello teacher, Chi encourages students to express themselves using visual art as well as music — to engage the artistic imagination, and deepen and integrate their musical experience. Her training includes: Peabody Conservatory, Mannes College of Music, School for Strings (Suzuki teacher training) and Fountainblue School of Music in Paris, France, and she has received Helena Rubinstein Foundation and Nadia Boulanger Scholarships.

Chi' s cello teachers include Irene Sharp, David Darling, Claus Adam, Margaret Rowell, Yo-Yo Ma, and Mistlav Rostropovich

Chi Lived and worked in New York City for 23 years. She has performed internationally with the Cantabile Trio - in major concert halls in New York City, touring the United States and Europe, in Vivaldi's parish church in Venice, and in an ancient amphitheater on the Greek Island of Rhodes. In New York City, Chi appeared at the Plaza Hotel's Pal Court for 14 years. Her special events clients include: Madeleine Albright, Nancy Reagan, Rudolf Giuliani, Donald Trump, Dustin Hoffman, David Letterman, Ralph Lauren, and Tiffany's. Chi's film credits include Madonna's music video "Papa Don't Preach," and Barbara Streisand's film "The Mirror Has Two Faces."

Since moving to San Francisco's Bay area, she has focused on solo cello performance, Silicon Valey Community Foundation for her "One Cello, One World" project, which consists of original cello compositions, transcriptions of vintage Chinese love songs for cello, and a solo Cello CD. She has performed concerts at the Community School of Music & Arts in Mountain View, as well as at other
venues, and has contributed to "Healing Arts - Music for Health & Healing" at El Camino Hospital in Mountain View.

Chi is also a gifted interior designer and Feng Shui consultant. She created home furnishings designs for Macys private labels in New York City for 5 years. Her design work has been featured in national magazines, and she designed the stage for the 911 memorial at San Francisco's City Hal in 2002.

Chi served on the Board of Directors of the Mountain View Chamber of Commerce for 3 years.

Ben Richard
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