THOMAS CHUN-YU CHEN

Maestro Thomas Chun-yu Chen is an internationally renowned conductor, violinist, composer, and stringed instrument maker and designer. He has been artistic director in several music festivals, including the 2010-2012 Eureka Springs CICA summer music festival in Eureka Springs Arkansas, the 2013-2014 Dallas CICA international summer music festival in Dallas, 2014-2015 CICA Taipei summer music festival, 2016-2019 Zhuhai chamber music festival in China, Guangzhou PIYO summer and winter music festival 2017-2023, and the current seasons of 2024-2025 CICA Vienna Summer music festival and international competition.

Maestro Chen has served as music director for several symphony orchestras, and he is one of jury members of Leopold Auer international competition in St. Petersburg Russia, and as faculty, orchestra conductor and international competition jury member for the Cremona international academy and competition in Italy.

Maestro Chen has concluded many successful seasons of music masterclass events and concerts in Asia, America, and Europe. He is currently funder of CIMA international music academy and artists managements, aiming to collaborate and promote young talented artists. Chen has a great passion for educating young children by providing and creating successful and inspirational. He is a violin pedagogue who has conducted research projects and various teaching methods.

As well as performer and educator, Chen is also a world renowned, decorated violin-maker and stringed instrument designer, Chen has received First Prize in String Quartet making and many awards in Violin, Viola, Cello makings from the VMAAI International Violin-making Competition. Maestro Chen, who has led research on violin making methodology for decades, Maestro Chen served as violin making competition judge for the "2012 Eureka Springs Violin Makers Conference" held in Eureka Springs, Arkansas and the "Dallas International Antonio Stradivari Violin Makers Conference" held in Dallas, Texas which featured over 200 string instrument exhibitions. Chen's organization has collaborated with many violin makers in different countries to promote their each individual unique artistic creation.