2020-2022
Chih-Chen (Steven) Yeh
Founder & Violinist
After being awarded “The Most Enthusiastic in Singing and Music” in first grade, 2011 – 2012, by the British School of Nanjing head of school and head of music, he started learning violin with violinist Huang Yuyan 黄玉岩 from the Nanjing Philharmonic. In fifth grade, 2015, he performed on-stage and joined the NIS Advanced Orchestra conducted by IB MYP/DP Music Teacher and Specialist, Ms. Amy Keus (B.M. McMaster University, M.A. Boston University). In 2014 and 2015, he studied with Fan Qianyi樊倩仪 (B.M. Nanjing Normal University, M.M. & D.M. Indiana University Jacobs School of Music). Since 2015, Steven studies violin with the teacher of Fan Qianyi 樊倩仪, Nanjing Normal University violin professor Tao Jie 陶捷 (B.M. Shanghai Conservatory, M.M. & D.M. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign). He also studied ensemble in 2015, 2016, and 2019 with Nanjing Normal University flute professor Lydia Yang 杨毓伦 (B.M. University of Music and Performing Arts, Vienna), who performed in numerous music festivals like the Siemens Music Festival, Taichung Music Festival, Jazz Music Festival, and China-German Music Festival.
In 2016 – 2017, Steven joined the selective and award-winning Kang-Chiao International School East China Campus high-school orchestra, participating in the KCISEC Orchestra Music Exchange Concerts, conducted by John Lin 林志强 (B.M. National Taiwan Normal University, M.M. Indiana University Jacobs School of Music), the chief conductor of Shanghai Musicians’ Chamber Orchestra, as well as the principal conductor of Shanghai Festival Symphony Orchestra and Pastoral Symphony Orchestra.
In 2017 and 2018 summers, Steven attended Indiana University Jacobs School of Music Summer String Academy by Emmy-nominated professor and pedagogue Mimi Zweig, the teacher of Grammy-winning violinist Joshua Bell. Steven studied with the Jefferson Award-winning professor, violinist, Northwestern University and University of British Columbia lecturer, and pedagogue, Ching-Yi Lin (B.M. & M.M. & D.M. Indiana University Jacobs School of Music). Steven has also collaborated with graduate-student pianists Alber Chien and Yujung Um from the Jacobs School of Music. Steven also joined the IU String Academy orchestra, conducted by professor Brenda Brenner (B.M. Wichita State University, M.M. & D.M. Eastman School of Music), as well as the New and Old Ensemble, conducted by violinist and National Symphony Orchestra of Mexico concertmaster, William Harvey (B.M. Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, M.M. The Juilliard School), and Grammy-nominated recording artist and violinist residing at the University of Notre Dame, Daniel Stein (B.M. University of São Paulo, M.M. & D.M. Indiana University Jacobs School of Music).
Steven has consistently performed in school events like assemblies, graduation, and music evenings since 2015, where he collaborated with pianists Ms. Amy Keus and Eason Zheng. Steven has won consecutive championships at talent shows in 2016, 2017, and 2018, as well as participating in the 2020 talent show at Stanford University Pre-Collegiate Studies. In 2018, Steven performed at masterclasses in the Nanjing Grand Poly Theater for world-class violinists Ryu Goto (B.A. Harvard University) and Lü Siqing 吕思清 (B.M. Central Conservatory of Music, Yehudi Menuhin School, M.M. The Juilliard School). He has also performed at an independent ensemble recital in 2015 and the Hopeful Hearts benefit concert in 2019, organized by Lydia Yang. In 2018, he got accepted to the Curtis Institute of Music Summer Festival, and in 2019, he got accepted to professor Yen Yu’s (B.M. Shanghai Conservatory, M.M. & D.M. The Juilliard School) Chamber Music Dolomiti Summer Festival in Italy.
Yixing (Eason) Zheng
Pianist
Eason started playing piano from a young age. During that time, he performed on several occasions and participated and attained awards at a few competitions. He also attained the highest grade for the Level 6 amateur piano and music theory examination.
Since then, he has studied from a variety of teachers, developing as a pianist by understanding and integrating a range of approaches to playing piano. He has achieved the highest grade for the Level 10 (highest for amateur) piano and music theory examination. Eason has also performed on assemblies and other events at school, participating and attaining awards at nonprofessional level competitions.
As of now, he mostly practices on his own, focusing on repertoire of his own interest. He is fascinated by classical music and is continuing to practice and perform pieces by composers including Bach, Beethoven, Chopin, and Debussy, from a wide variety of musical eras from the Baroque, Classical, Romantic, to the Impressionistic and Modernist.
Eason believes that classical music offers valuable, human experiences for all. He hopes that with his playing, he is able to reintroduce classical music, with its grandeur and subtleties, to everybody.
Noa Seto
Pianist