Aya Chen

Chiao-Yen "Aya" Chen has had a lifetime involvement with music, cello, and piano. Ms. Chen grew up in Pingtung, Taiwan. In junior high and high school, she was selected for the Music Gifted Program. Her focus has been cello and piano performance. 

​

Ms. Chen has a Bachelor of Music from the National Pingtung University of Education. Her major was cello performance with a minor in piano performance. After finishing college, Ms. Chen went to America for graduate study at the University of Missouri, on full scholarship. There she continued her studies in cello performance and music education. In 2014, Ms. Chen got her Master degree from University of Missouri-Columbia with the outstanding cello student award. 

​

Ms. Chen has several music related awards, including First Prize in the Seidof Music Competition in Kaohsing, Taiwan and Second Prize in the National Student Music Competition in Pingtung, Taiwan. Ms. Chen has been performing publicly since 2001. Ms. Chen attended the Yellow Springs Chamber Orchestra and Bemidji Symphony Orchestra. She also played in the University of Missouri String Quartet.

​

Ms. Chen's teaching experience is wide and diverse. She has taught cello, music theory, and music history at an indigenous elementary school in Taiwan. She also taught piano and worked as an accompanist at Benmidji State University and the Headwaters School of Music and Art in Minnesota. She has taught students with a wide range of experience of all ages, from as young as kids aged 3 to adult. 

​

Ms. Chen is enthusiastic about teaching students with any level of experience and is able to offer lessons for cello, piano, music theory and music history in both English and Mandarin.