Michelle Wong
Michelle Wong is a Chicago-based performer and educator. She began playing the piano at the age of four under the Yamaha Junior Music Course in her native Malaysia. She has successfully performed as pianist, collaborative artist, and violinist in many solo, chamber, and orchestral performances in Asia and the United States. Before moving to Chicago, she has appeared as guest soloist twice with the Houston Sinfonietta during their 2015 and 2016 seasons. She served as staff collaborative pianist at the University of Houston's Moores School of Music for two years, and served as choral accompanist and organist at Cypress United Methodist Church in Cypress, Texas. Michelle is currently a member of the Music Teachers National Association (MTNA), Illinois State Music Teachers Association (ISMTA), and the North Shore Music Teachers Association (NSMTA).
Michelle has worked with internationally renowned artists such as Enrico Elisi, Roberto Plano, Anderson and Roe, Dorian Leljak, Gleb Ivanov, violinists Antonella Hayes, Ted Pople, and composer Hanna Kulenty. Michelle is the recipient of numerous awards and competitions including placing 1st in the 2012 Missouri Music Teachers Association (MMTA) Piano Competition, 1st and 2nd place finishes in the 2012 Music Teachers National Association (MTNA) Young Artist Piano Competition in the West Central Division in 2011 and 2012, 1st in the 72-Hour Composition Competition at Missouri State University, and a competitor in the 1st ASEAN International Chopin Piano Competition. She has also frequented as soloist and collaborative artist at music festivals including the Immanuel and Helen Olshan Texas Music Festival, University of Houston International Piano Festival, and the Texas State International Piano Festival. Prior to her studies at the United States, she completed Licentiate of the Royal Schools of Music (LRSM) in piano performance and the Diploma of the Royal Schools of Music (DipABRSM) in violin performance.
In addition to her career as a performer, Michelle is an emerging music teacher who has a very strong passion and appreciation for music education. During her graduate studies at the Moores School of Music, she was a graduate teaching assistant and taught group piano class to undergraduate students. She was also a collaborative pianist for the piano department. Since 2009, Michelle has been teaching group and private piano, violin, ear training, improvisation, and composition to students as young as 3 and above, including special needs children, and has spent summers conducting master classes in her native Malaysia. Many of her students participate in local competitions and state music events including the Illinois State Music Teachers Association (ISMTA) Achievement In Music Program (AIM) test and Sonata-Sonatina Festival. She has also successfully prepared students for internationally recognized examinations through the Associate Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM), Royal Conservatory of Music (RCM), and the Trinity College of London. Her students have excelled with high distinction and merits in both graded and diploma exams for theory, piano, and violin. She has also been invited to judge at the Texas All-Star Music Festival.
As a full scholarship student, Michelle received her Masters of Music in Piano Performance from the University of Houston’s Moores School of Music, where she studied with renowned pedagogue Nancy Weems. She graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Music from Missouri State University under the tutelage of Dr. Wei-Han Su. During her undergraduate studies, she studied violin and composition with Dr. David Hays and Dr. Michael F. Murray respectively. Her past piano teachers include Chong Lim Ng, Jun Lin Yeoh, and Katherine Kok.
Michelle has worked with internationally renowned artists such as Enrico Elisi, Roberto Plano, Anderson and Roe, Dorian Leljak, Gleb Ivanov, violinists Antonella Hayes, Ted Pople, and composer Hanna Kulenty. Michelle is the recipient of numerous awards and competitions including placing 1st in the 2012 Missouri Music Teachers Association (MMTA) Piano Competition, 1st and 2nd place finishes in the 2012 Music Teachers National Association (MTNA) Young Artist Piano Competition in the West Central Division in 2011 and 2012, 1st in the 72-Hour Composition Competition at Missouri State University, and a competitor in the 1st ASEAN International Chopin Piano Competition. She has also frequented as soloist and collaborative artist at music festivals including the Immanuel and Helen Olshan Texas Music Festival, University of Houston International Piano Festival, and the Texas State International Piano Festival. Prior to her studies at the United States, she completed Licentiate of the Royal Schools of Music (LRSM) in piano performance and the Diploma of the Royal Schools of Music (DipABRSM) in violin performance.
In addition to her career as a performer, Michelle is an emerging music teacher who has a very strong passion and appreciation for music education. During her graduate studies at the Moores School of Music, she was a graduate teaching assistant and taught group piano class to undergraduate students. She was also a collaborative pianist for the piano department. Since 2009, Michelle has been teaching group and private piano, violin, ear training, improvisation, and composition to students as young as 3 and above, including special needs children, and has spent summers conducting master classes in her native Malaysia. Many of her students participate in local competitions and state music events including the Illinois State Music Teachers Association (ISMTA) Achievement In Music Program (AIM) test and Sonata-Sonatina Festival. She has also successfully prepared students for internationally recognized examinations through the Associate Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM), Royal Conservatory of Music (RCM), and the Trinity College of London. Her students have excelled with high distinction and merits in both graded and diploma exams for theory, piano, and violin. She has also been invited to judge at the Texas All-Star Music Festival.
As a full scholarship student, Michelle received her Masters of Music in Piano Performance from the University of Houston’s Moores School of Music, where she studied with renowned pedagogue Nancy Weems. She graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Music from Missouri State University under the tutelage of Dr. Wei-Han Su. During her undergraduate studies, she studied violin and composition with Dr. David Hays and Dr. Michael F. Murray respectively. Her past piano teachers include Chong Lim Ng, Jun Lin Yeoh, and Katherine Kok.
Allen Chen (Trumpet)
Trumpeter Allen Chen has performed in a wide range of venues including Chicago’s Orchestra Hall, Boston’s Symphony Hall, and Jones Hall in Houston. He was formerly a member of the Houston Brass Quintet, Houston Brass Band, Houston Sinfonietta, and the Da Camera of Houston Young Artist Program. Mr. Chen has performed with the Champaign-Urbana Symphony, Sinfonia da Camera, Neponset Valley Philharmonic, Dallas Wind Symphony, and the Discovery Ensemble. He has been a fellow at the Texas Music Festival, the International Festival Institute at Round Top, and has attended numerous chamber music festivals including the Rafael Mendez Brass Institute, the International Institute at Domaine-Forget, and the Atlantic Brass Quintet Seminar.
Allen completed his Bachelor of Music degree at the University of Illinois and received a Master of Music from the New England Conservatory. His principal teachers have included Michael Ewald, Ronald Romm, Benjamin Wright, and Thomas Rolfs.
Allen completed his Bachelor of Music degree at the University of Illinois and received a Master of Music from the New England Conservatory. His principal teachers have included Michael Ewald, Ronald Romm, Benjamin Wright, and Thomas Rolfs.