BIOGRAPHY: CHIHSUAN YANG

A native of Taiwan, Chihsuan Yang started playing violin and piano at an early age; her principle teachers have included Cyrus Forough, Stefan Hersh and Ilya Kaler. She holds a bachelor degree of violin performance from DePaul University, and along with being a member of the New Millenium Orchestra, she is an active freelance musician/teacher - tackling every musical style from classical to rock to traditional Chinese music, or from orchestra to theatre and performance art; she has toured Taiwan, Australia, Canada, and throughout the U.S.

As a multi-instrumentalist specializing in Western violin, electric violin, Chinese erhu (fiddle), and piano, she has played in a diverse array of ensembles and styles of music. Chihsuan is a founding member of the chamber quintet "Accende Ensemble". She has served as concertmaster on the Chinese erhu within a Traditional Chinese Orchestra, and has played in a multitude of venues on electric violin as well. Recently she performed in the sold-out Lookingglass Theatre production of the muti-nominated JEFF award Chicago musical "Sita Ram".

Aside from her Rock Band and Classical ensembles, Chihsuan can currently be found teaching piano and violin, and working with the Chicago Children's Choir. She has grown to love and appreciate Chicago and its people.