Hsuan Chen
A native of Taiwan, violist Hsuan Chen (Abby) has been a featured artist in concerts across the U.S, Europe, and Asia. Her recent collaborations have brought her to venues such as Carnegie Hall, Alice Tully, Hall, The Metropolitan Museum, the Gerald W. Lynch Theater, and the Brooklyn Museum. Among some of her most recent collaborations include an online project entitled Broadcast from Home by New York composer Lisa Bielawa, a film-music collaboration with acclaimed cellist (former Assistant Principal of the Montreal Symphony Orchestra) Michael Nicolas of Brooklyn Rider, chamber music performances in NYC with cellist Mihai Marica of the Lincoln Center Chamber Music Society, violinist Sami Merdinian of the cutting edge crossover group Sybarite 5, and superstar violinist Stefan Jackiw. Abby has more than six years of teaching experience. She teaches violin and viola to students of all ages and levels.
Abby received her Master of Music degree in 2018 and Professional Studies diploma in 2020 from the Mannes School of Music where she studied with Daniel Panner. She is currently a doctoral candidate at the Mason Gross School of the Arts, Rutgers University where she studies with Rebecca Young. Abby currently resides in New York City.As a soloist, Shelby has performed with the Symphony Caritas, the Rockland Symphony, the San Francisco Academy Orchestra, and the San Francisco Conservatory of Music baroque ensemble among others.
She can be heard playing with the Cicada Chamber Players on composer Lei Liang’s 2014 album, Bamboo Lights, violinist Ray Chen's recording from 2014, Mozart, of sonatas and concertos with the Schleswig Holstein Musik Festival orchestra, and the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus’ 40th anniversary CD (2018).
Shelby is a member of the Monterey and Santa Barbara Symphonies and has enjoyed teaching students of all ages throughout the bay area.
She is currently a Suzuki certified teacher, and is pursuing a graduate degree in historical performance from the Juilliard School in New York.