Yu-Wen Chou, an accomplished cellist, joined the cello section in Taiwan Philharmonic, the National Symphony Orchestra since 1992. Ms. Chou also teaches at the National Taiwan University of the Arts, Soochow University and Chinese Culture University as a cello professor. She has been invited as a judge in many competitions and auditions for Master’s and PHD programs at the universities.

Ms. Chou went to the Peabody Conservatory of Johns Hopkins University to study cello with the renowned cellist Stephen Kates. During her studies there, she won scholarships from both the Dean Award and “Asger Hamerik and Sidney Lanier”. Ms. Chou also studied chamber music with Juilliard String Quartet violinist- Earl Carlyss, Prof. Berl Senafsky, and Samuel Sanders. In 1988 and 1989, she received full scholarships for the “Music Academy of the West” music summer camp in Santa Barbara, California.

After receiving Bachelor’s degree with honors from Peabody in May 1990, Ms. Chou entered Music School and Theatre Arts, Washington State University with full teaching assistantship. She was awarded first prizes from Washington State MTNA-Wurlitzer Collegiate Audition in 1991, MTNA-Northwest Division in 1992 and scholarship to the National Competition held by American Music Teachers Association and gave her outstanding performance.

In May 1992, Ms. Chou earned her Master’s degree with distinction and won the Gold Medal of the “Greater Spokane Music and Allied Arts Festival” String Artist Competition for young artists. She also performed Shostakovich Cello Concerto No. 1 with the Spokane Symphony Orchestra receiving high praises.

Ms. Chou’s contributions to cello music go beyond colleges teaching and orchestra performance. Ms. Chou has regularly held many recitals and concerts. Often invite her brilliant students or young artists to the stage, or venture with different types of music. She continues to achieve a higher stature of music performance with passions.