Alan Yang- Cello
Brandon Mei – Violin, Viola, Composition
Brandon is an active violinist performer in the US. Born in a musical family. Brandon made his debut at very young age. He studied violin, Piano and composition from his parents, who are excellent music educators. Brandon received his Bachelor’s Degree of Music from Guangzhou Xing Hai Conservatory in China. He has been the concert Master of Guangzhou Conservatory Orchestra and the Shen Zhen Orchestra.
Helena Huang – Violin, Viola
She has more than 30 years of violin teaching experience. She started playing violin at the age of 7, and studied with Professor Zhao Xun and Gong Zhenbang at Central Conservatory of Music. At an early age, she was given the opportunity to go abroad and study violin at University of Utah School of Music. She has Teacher Certification for university level. Many of her students received awards and high achievements in violin competitions; and she has sent students to Peabody Music School and Curtis Institute of Music. Every year her students are adopted by different youth symphony in Bay Area. Also her students passed ABRSM exams on different level every year.
Dennis Ngai – Violin, Viola
Dennis Ngai is a highly sought-after violin and viola teacher with over 18 years of teaching experience in Silicon Valley. His musical journey began at the age of five under the tutelage of his father, a former member of the Singapore Symphony Orchestra. Throughout his career, Dennis has been mentored by many prestigious musicians, including Antoine van Dongen, Lin Li, and Wei He, which has honed his deep understanding of the art of music-making.
Dennis is dedicated to providing a nurturing and supportive learning environment for students of all ages and levels. He has trained extensively with Suzuki educators such as Joseph Kaminsky and Allen Lieb, and his teaching approach combines the Suzuki method with traditional pedagogy to provide a comprehensive and well-rounded music education.
Dennis’s commitment to music education is reflected in his ability to work with students to help them achieve their musical goals. He instills in his students the technical skills and performance techniques they need to succeed, while also nurturing a love of music that will last a lifetime.
Dennis’s students have become members of prestigious local youth symphony organizations such as the California Youth Symphony, Peninsula Youth Orchestra, Golden State Youth Orchestra, Fremont Youth Symphony Orchestra, San Jose Youth Symphony, and Silicon Valley Youth Symphony, showcasing the effectiveness of his teaching approach and dedication to musical excellence.
David Wang – Violin, Viola
He first picked up the violin at 7 years old with the Shanghai Children’s Art Theater in China. His practice continued to build through the Music and Arts program at Xiamen University. Career highlights in China include performing with the esteemed China Radio Orchestra, as well as traveling with the China Puppet Art Theatre as first violin. He had the further privilege of studying under the illustrious violin master Sheng Zhongguo – internationally lauded as one of the world’s greatest artists.
In America, He acquired the tutelage of Clayton Haslop, famed LA concertmaster, perfecting his craft with the unique violin techniques. After moving to California, He also played with the De Anza Chamber Orchestra of Cupertino. In an early instructional capacity, He lead the youth Song of Songs orchestra at San Jose Christian Assembly – lending his additional viola expertise to the quartet chamber.
All in all David has taught in the Bay Area for more then 20 years. Students of all ages ranging from 5 to 65 years old! In both English and Chinese languages.
Samuel Boruszko – Violin, Viola, Clarinet, Saxophone, Composition, Conductor
Samuel is a Composer, Orchestra Conductor, Music Educator and founder member of the Simón Bolivar Orchestra. He is the Director of Community Synergy Inc and Bow to Strings and he Stratfford School Orchestra Teacher. He holds a Master’s Degree in Music from California Institute of the Arts. Samuel is also a choir director, a composer and an arranger, he has an extensive list of compositions and/or arrangements ranging from classical, popular, world music, symphonic, choral works and worship music.
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EDUCATION
California Institute Of The Arts, CALARTS, Santa Clarita, CA.
[Master Of Fine Arts]
Instituto Universitario De Estudios Musicales IUDEM, Caracas, Venezuela
[Bachelor Of Arts In Music Composition] -
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Founding member of “El Sistema” Of Symphonic Orchestras in Caracas, Venezuela directed By the legendary Dr. Jose. A. Abreu:
Simón Bolívar Symphonic OrchestraNational Youth Orchestra of Venezuela
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Worked as a conductor at:
- Simón Bolívar Symphonic Orchestra
- Symphonic Band of the State of Carabobo
- Emil Friedmann College String and Voice Orchestra
- Carabobo Symphony Orchestra
- Haydn Orchestra – Emil Friedmann College
- Conservatory Orchestra (ONJV)
- ONJV National Children’s Orchestra “B”
Ernest Yen – Violin
Born and raised in Taiwan, Ernest Yen began his violin lessons at the age of 5, under the tutelage of Kuei-Chu Chu. At age 11, he was featured as a soloist in the Butterfly Lovers Violin Concerto and toured Japan with Jhen-Si Youth Orchestra. At age 13, he was the youngest member of the Taiwan Youth Symphony Orchestra during its U.S. tour. Ernest served as concertmaster in orchestras through his study, and played Vivaldi The Four Seasons Violin Concerto and Mendelssohn Violin Concerto with National Tsing Hua University Orchestra, and Prokofiev Violin Concerto No. 2 with Bei-An Symphony Orchestra. In 2002, he won the first prize in the violin category in the Taiwan National Music Competition. His string quartet also won the first prize in the chamber music category in the same year.
Ernest moved to the U.S. to pursue his doctorate degree in 2006 and has been a member of the UC Berkeley Symphony Orchestra since then. He studied with Hagai Shaham, Alexander Barantschick, Catherine Van Hoesen, Chen Zhao, Franklyn D’Antonio, and is currently study with Yukiko Kurakata. He was threetime concerto competition winner and performed with the UCBSO as the featured soloist in several seasons, including the Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto in 2008, Saint-Saens “La Muse et le Poete” in 2010, and Korngold Violin Concerto in 2011, on a 1865 J.B. Vuillaume violin generously lent to him by the Music Department of UC Berkeley. In 2008, he was the Semi-Finalist of the KDFC Classical Star Competition. In 2010, he was invited to perform on the Four Seasons Arts “Cameo Concerts” program and performed with Miles Graber in the Yachats Music Festival in Oregon. He also plays frequently with the Berkeley Symphony, Symphony Silicon Valley, Master Sinfonia Chamber Orchestra, Palo Alto Philharmonic etc. Ernest Yen is currently living in San Jose. His students have won local music competitions / youth symphony auditions and performed in Carnegie Hall.
Kitty Chen -Violin
Key Competencies & Offerings
- Violin performance
- Orchestra experience and knowledge
- ABRSM preparation (including aural test and music theory) Ear training
- Sight reading
- Piano performance/accompaniment
- Musical analysis, theory and history
- Speak Mandarin and English
Profile
- In spring 2020, she graduated from UCSC music department and gain Honors in Music. She was the concertmaster in UCSC orchestra from winter 2019- spring 2020. In spring 2019, She won the Concerto competition in UCSC and perform Tchaikovsky violin concerto with the orchestra in fall 2019. Besides, She also start to tutor some children during that period. To help more children with the violin, She participated the teacher training camp held by Suzuki in Chicago in summer 2019 and spring 2021.
- Awards2020- Honors in Music in UCSC
2019- Winner, University of California Santa Cruz concerto competition 2019- Concertmaster, University of California Santa Cruz orchestra 2018- Dean scholarship
2018- Regent scholarship
2009- First place, Mandarin Daily new violin competition
2007-First place, Mandarin Daily new violin competition
2005-First place, Mandarin Daily new violin competition