The Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra has announced the appointment of RAY CHEN as associate principal viola, effective in September 2012. He goes to Indianapolis from the St. Louis Symphony, where he has been on the roster since 2003. Originally a violinist, Chen was a member of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago from 1992 to 1995 and served as co-concertmaster there during the 1994-95 season. In recent years he has performed with the Chicago, Detroit, and Indianapolis symphony orchestras. He holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in violin, as well as a master’s degree in conducting, from Northwestern University. In 1999 he began studying viola, first with Li-Kuo Chang and subsequently with Michael Strauss. He has taught chamber music at the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra, the Chicago Academy for the Arts, and the Western Springs (Ill.) School of Talent Education.
Posted March 27, 2012
