Christina Chen-Beyers

Christina Yi-Ping Chen-Beyers recently completed her DMA degree at the University of Minnesota where she studies with Mark Russell Smith. Dr. Chen-Beyers also holds a Masters Degree in Orchestral Conducting from Northwestern University and a B.M. degree in Oboe Performance from the University of Toronto. She is the Music Director of the Mississippi Valley Orchestra, the Seward Concert Band, and Northern Valley Youth Orchestras. At the University of Minnesota, she founded the Campus String Orchestra and the Summer Orchestra, encouraging community members and music majors to collaborate. She is also passionate about community engagement; she led the University of Minnesota musicians in a performance of Bach’s St. John Passion in conjunction with a dialogue between the religious leaders in the Twin-Cities. Dr. Chen-Beyers resides in Fargo with her husband.

EDUCATION

           
2011           Doctor of Music in Orchestral Conducting
University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota

2008 – 2011           Candidate - Doctor of Music in Orchestral Conducting
University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
            Sample Conducting Fellowship Recipient
                        Orchestral Conducting Teacher: Mark Russell Smith
                        Choral Conducting Teacher: Kathy Salzman Romey
                        Oboe Teacher: John Snow

2004 – 2006            Master of Music in Orchestral Conducting
Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois
                        Orchestral Conducting Teacher: Victor Yampolsky
                        Band Conducting Teacher: Mallory Thompson
                        Oboe Teacher: Grover Schiltz

2000 – 2004            Bachelor of Music in Oboe Performance
University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
                        Graduated with Honors
                                    Oboe Teacher: Keith Atkinson
                                    Orchestral Conducting Teacher: Raffi Armenian           

CONDUCTING EXPERIENCE

2011 – present            Conductor, Symphony Orchestra, North Valley Youth Orchestras, Crookston, Minnesota

2011 – present            Conductor, Mississippi Valley Orchestra, Minneapolis, Minnesota

2010 – present            Director, Seward Concert Band, Minneapolis, Minnesota

2009            Conductor, University of Minnesota Opera Theatre, Minneapolis, Minnesota

• Led university’s top musicians in opera orchestra performing Stravinsky’s Renard in collaborations with singers and dancers

2009 – present            Founder and Conductor, University of Minnesota Summer Orchestra, Minneapolis, Minnesota

• Created, recruited and conducted a 51-piece orchestra consisting of both university students and community members in the founding concert in collaboration with the university’s summer opera and summer chorus programs

2008 – present            Primary Instructor and Conductor, University of Minnesota Campus Orchestra, Minneapolis, Minnesota

• Programmed and let 120 non-major musicians in rehearsals and performances
• Created an additional String Orchestra of 45 members

2006                        Conductor, Northwestern Philharmonia Orchestra, Chicago, Illinois

• Led the university’s 140-piece non-major orchestra in rehearsals and performance

2006                        Guest Conductor, North Shore Chamber Orchestra, Chicago, Illinois

• Accompanied Northwestern University violin faculty Gerardo Ribeiro and led the orchestra in rehearsals and performance

WORKSHOP CONDUCTING EXPERIENCE

2009                        Stravinsky Symphony of Psalms Festival, Minneapolis, Minnesota

• Participated in conducting masterclasses with Simon Halsey, Chief Conductor of Berlin Radio Choir
• Conducted University of Minnesota’s University Singers in rehearsal and masterclass setting

2005                        Sewanee Music Festival, Sewanee, Tennessee

• Participated in conducting master classes with Victor Yampolsky and James Paul
• Led student orchestra in performance, organized and conducted chamber concerts, and led sectional rehearsals

2004                        Northwestern University Wind Conducting Symposium, Chicago, Illinois

• Participated in materclasses with Mallory Thompson and Robert Reynolds

           
2004            National Arts Centre Summer Music Institute Conductors Program, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

• Participated in conducting classes with Jorma Panula

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

           
2007 – 2008,            Music Director and Chamber Coach, Chinese Artists’ Association in Toronto, 2001 – 2004             Ontario, Canada

• Recruited, rehearsed, and led both high school and professional musicians in chamber and orchestra concerts

2007 - 2008            Piano Teacher, Allegro Academy of Music, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

• Taught piano lessons to a studio of 14 students from ages 3 to 16

2006 – 2007             Instrumental/Choral Teacher, Maria High School, Chicago, Illinois

• Established and taught

1999 – present            Private Lesson Instructor, Private Studio in Toronto, Chicago, and Minneapolis

• Established a Studio of 28 students in oboe, piano, voice, theory, and conducting
• Created and taught theory classes to prepare students for Royal Conservatory of Music examinations in Canada

PERFORMING EXPERIENCES

           
2007 – 2008,            Principal Oboe, Korean Canadian Symphony Orchestra, Toronto, Ontario,
2001-2004             Canada

2006 – 2007            Assistant Conductor and Church Pianist, Community Christian Church, Chicago, Illinois

2005            Principal Oboe, Northwestern University Symphony Orchestra and New Music Ensemble, Chicago, Illinois
           
2003                        English Horn, Toronto Bach Consort Orchestra