Biography

Meijun Chen is currently a third year Doctor of Music student in Wind Band Conducting, under the supervision of Dr. Angela Schroeder, at the University of Alberta in Canada. She was the Conducting Intern with Edmonton Youth Orchestra in 2020 and 2022. Her research interests include wind band and orchestral music education in Canada and China, and the historical developments of university band and orchestra pedagogies, repertories and composers. Meijun is an active guest conductor of University of Alberta Symphonic Wind Ensemble, Concert Band, Summer Band, University Symphony Orchestra, community orchestras and choirs. She is selected as one of the ten Conducting Fellows of the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music’s International Wind Festival and Conductor’s Academy 2023, working with Dr. Kevin Holzman and Colonel Jason Fettig, as well as the musicians from “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band. She also recently received The Johann Strauss Foundation Music Award for Advanced Study of Music in Austria, with a scholarship to study Orchestral Conducting at Vienna Opera Academy with Professor Toby Purser, in August 2023. She has been invited to guest conduct the Edmonton Winds, Cosmopolitan Music Society Concert Band, and Festival City Winds Music Society in their 2023-2024 season.

Meijun is also an award-winning clarinetist with 18 years of international wind ensemble and orchestra’s performances and competitions experiences in more than 13 countries in Europe (Austria, Germany, United Kingdom, Hungary, Netherlands, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia), Asia (China, Japan, Korea) and North America (Canada, United States). She was invited as a Visiting Artist to teach a woodwind masterclass, to guest speak at the undergraduate conducting class, to have guest rehearsals with the University Wind Orchestra, and to play a clarinet recital at the University of Lethbridge in 2023. She was selected to play in the National Youth Band of Canada in 2018, won the 2019/20 University of Alberta Concerto Competition, and held various Principal Clarinet positions. She is a frequent Guest Clarinetist with the Royal Canadian Artillery Band and The Loyal Edmonton Regiment Band.

Meijun is passionate about music education and is an experienced conducting and clarinet clinician at various junior high schools, high schools and the Red Deer Royals Marching Show Band across the Province of Alberta, Canada. Her clarinet, piano, and music theory students won gold medals and first place at national level, and the acceptance to Canadian universities’ Performance and Music Therapy programs. Meijun continues to immerse in the music performance and education community, not only to inspire younger generations, but also bring the joy of music to connect people and encourage community engagement.