Music Director - Dr. TIFFANY LU
Conductor Tiffany Lu is in her third season as Music Director of the Pierre Monteux School and Music Festival and also serves as Director of Orchestral Activities at the University of Florida, earning particular accolades for her music directorship of Mahler’s Resurrection Symphony and UF Opera's production of Carmen, as well as performing by invitation with the UF Symphony Orchestra at the 2026 Florida Music Education Association Conference. Recent guest conducting appearances include the Orquesta Sinfónica del Instituto Politécnico Nacional of Mexico, Ocala Symphony Orchestra, Sewanee Summer Music Festival, NYSSMA 2024 All-State Symphonic Orchestra, Symphony New Hampshire, and Elgin Symphony Orchestra. Lu regularly adjudicates and gives clinics at the high school and collegiate level across the country, and is also currently serving as Vice President of the College Orchestra Directors’ Association.
From 2020-2022, Lu was Director of the Sewanee Symphony Orchestra and Assistant Professor of Orchestral Conducting at Sewanee University of the South. Prior to her current appointment, Lu served for five seasons as Associate Conductor of the Pierre Monteux Music Festival and two seasons as Interim Music Director. Lu also formerly held positions as Assistant Conductor with the Prince Georges’ Philharmonic (MD), Music Director of the Wilmington Community Orchestra (DE), Assistant and Associate Conductor with Washington, D.C.’s Capital City Symphony, Music Director of the University of Maryland Repertoire Orchestra, cover conductor and principal librarian at the 2016 and 2017 National Orchestral Institute, and conductor with the DC Youth Orchestra Program and Annapolis Symphony Academy. She has also served as lead producer on recordings by the Virginia Symphony Orchestra and the Smithsonian Chamber Players.
Lu grew up in Tampa, FL and holds degrees from Princeton University, Ithaca College, and the University of Maryland.
Associate Conductor - Kyle Ritenauer
Kyle Ritenauer is an emerging presence in the classical music world, noted for his versatility across the symphonic stage, opera, and ballet. He made his Kennedy Center debut in 2025, conducting the National Symphony Orchestra in performance. Kyle is a frequent presence at Lincoln Center having recently led 22 performances with the New York City Ballet across productions including Tchaikovsky’s The Sleeping Beauty, and The Nutcracker, in addition to several other ballets. Kyle currently serves as the Director of Orchestral Studies at Montclair State University, is a member of the Artistic Staff at the Manhattan School of Music, is a regular guest conductor for The Juilliard School, and serves as associated conductor and faculty at the Monteux School and Music Festival.
In the world of opera, Kyle has worked with companies including Opéra de Montréal and Des Moines Metro Opera, the Metropolitan Opera's Lindemann Young Artist Singers, and most recently prepared Ravel’s L’enfant et les sortilèges with The Juilliard School Orchestra and Vocal Department. As principal conductor of the Cali Opera Program, Kyle has led productions of Poulenc’s Dialogues des Carmélites, Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi, Cavalli’s La Calisto, and is excited for this year’s production of Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte.
A teacher at heart, Kyle works to make classical music meaningful and relevant for his students, guiding them to approach their craft with both excellence and imagination. His primary appointment is as Interim Director of Orchestral Studies at Montclair State University, where he leads the John J. Cali School of Music Symphony Orchestra, collaborates with the Cali Opera Program, and teaches a full studio of graduate orchestral conducting students. Kyle considers the John J. Cali School his musical home.
Nationally sought after as a teacher, Kyle has served on the artistic staff of the Manhattan School of Music since 2021, is a member of the conducting faculty at the internationally recognized Pierre Monteux School, and regularly guest conducts at The Juilliard School. He maintains deep connections with youth orchestras and high school musicians across the country and was recognized as Collegiate Teacher of the Year by the American String Teachers Association
Kyle has appeared as guest conductor with the Elgin Symphony Orchestra, Symphony New Hampshire, Capitol Philharmonic of New Jersey, Norwalk Symphony Orchestra, the Hudson Valley Philharmonic, and Carnegie Hall’s Ensemble Connect. As a cover conductor Kyle has worked with the New York Philharmonic, National Symphony Orchestra, Detroit Symphony Orchestra, St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, Utah Symphony, New Jersey Symphony Orchestra, and the American Composers Orchestra.
GUEST CONDUCTING FACULTY - jeffery meyer
Distinguished for insightful performances, visionary programming, and wide-ranging collaborations, conductor Jeffery Meyer has captivated audiences in the contemporary orchestral scene around the globe.
He is an Artistic Partner with the Northwest Sinfonietta, one of the Northwest United States’ most dynamic orchestras, as well as Professor of Music in Orchestral Conducting at Indiana University Jacobs School of Music. Artistic Director of the St. Petersburg Chamber Philharmonic for two decades, his work with the orchestra was noted for its breadth and innovation. The orchestra’s American debut with three performances at Symphony Space’s Wall-to-Wall Festival in New York City were described by The New York Times as “impressive”, “powerful”, “splendid” and “blazing.” His programming has been awarded multiple prizes including three ASCAP Awards for Adventurous Programming and two Vytautas Marijosius Memorial Awards in Orchestral Programming.
A champion of contemporary orchestral music, his passion for fusing classical tradition with contemporary insight imagines the orchestral experience as a powerful medium for emotion, story, and cultural dialogue, fostering transformative collaborations with composers and performers, as well as multimedia visionaries, activists, and urban artists. His recorded catalogue includes repertoire from the early baroque to the music of our time. His most recent album Illuminations: Music of Narong Prangcharoen was released on the Albany Records label in 2023.
Recent projects include a newly developed multimedia performance of Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring and Petrushka with the Thailand Philharmonic Orchestra and a world premiere choreography for Petrushka in collaboration with the Jacobs School of Music Ballet Department; the premiere of Carlos Simon’s Graffiti performed and recorded with internationally renowned graffiti artists; a theatrical symphonic concert exploring themes of social justice developed in collaboration with Daniel Bernard Roumain and Marc Bamuthi Joseph; the world premiere recording of Laura Kaminsky’s Piano Concerto with pianist Ursula Oppens; a new, semi-staged production of Nkeiru Okoye’s Invitation to a Die-In; multiple collaborations with the American Composers Orchestra’s EarShot program, and an ongoing collaboration with award-winning radio producer Jad Abumrad exploring narrative, sound, and orchestral performance.
Recent and upcoming engagements include appearances with the Scotia Festival of Music, American Composers Orchestra, City Chamber Orchestra of Hong Kong with soprano Dawn Upshaw, Xalapa Symphony Orchestra, Orquesta Juvenil Universitaria Eduardo Mata, Texas Festival Orchestra at Round Top, and return engagements with the Grossman Ensemble, Sichuan Symphony, and Thailand Philharmonic.
Meyer's commitment to the innovative future of classical music positions him as a sought-after educator and mentor. His guidance extends beyond technique, diving into the philosophy and intricacies of civic leadership in today's evolving cultural scene. Prior to his appointment at the Jacobs School of Music, he led the acclaimed orchestral programs at Arizona State University and Ithaca College. He has given masterclasses throughout the United States as well as Canada, Europe, and Asia and has led conducting masterclasses spanning the globe at such institutions as the Central Conservatory in Beijing, Shanghai Conservatory, Tianjin Conservatory, the Universität für Musik und Darstellende Kunst in Vienna, and the Rimsky-Korsakov Conservatory in St. Petersburg, Russia.
Meyer holds degrees in piano as well as composition and completed his Doctorate of Musical Arts in Piano Performance with Gilbert Kalish at the State University of New York at Stony Brook.
GUEST CONDUCTING FACULTY - jerry hou
Taiwanese-American conductor Jerry Hou is building community and revitalizing the music field via collaboration with some of today's most important musical voices.
Born in Taiwan and raised in a small town in Arkansas, Hou had a late start in music. Beginning on trombone in middle school band, he went on to work professionally in American and European orchestras before his playing career was ended by injury. Turning to conducting studies with Jorma Panula in Finland, he is now recognized for his dynamic presence, insightful interpretations, musical versatility, and commanding technique on the podium.
Hou recently concluded his celebrated tenure as Resident Conductor of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, the first person to hold that position in the orchestra’s history, and Music Director of the Atlanta Symphony Youth Orchestra. He conducted the ASO in classical, family, and education concerts, and, made his subscription debut in a program of music by Joan Tower, Jessie Montgomery, and Bela Bartok. Committed to developing the Atlanta music community, Hou created the Second Atlanta School of Composers, featuring native Atlantans, Joel Thompson, Carlos Simon, Viet Cuong, Sarah Gibson, TJ Cole, and Elise Arancio. Hou also served as Resident Conductor of the Grand Teton Music Festival for seven summers, leading the festival orchestra in subscription, family, and educational concerts.
Hou began an association with the New York Philharmonic and music director Jaap van Zweden in 2021, and first conducted the orchestra in the tuning of the newly renovated David Geffen Hall. He worked closely with van Zweden, assisting him and guest conductors including Jakub Hrusa, Stephane Deneve, Paavo Jarvi, Susanna Malkki, Marin Alsop, and Hannu Lintu. Hou made his successful debut with the orchestra in the spring of 2023, and returned to conduct seven concerts this past season to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Young People’s Concerts. Hou returns to the New York Philharmonic this season for more concerts.
Known for his flexibility in many styles and genres, Hou has conducted a wide range of repertoire from classical to contemporary. A leading interpreter and conductor of contemporary music, he has collaborated with acclaimed composers such as Kevin Puts, Andrew Norman, Steve Reich, Joel Thompson, Anthony Davis, Peter Eötvös, Melinda Wagner, George Lewis, Alvin Singleton, Gyorgy Kurtag, Unsuk Chin, and Carlos Simon. Hou has conducted leading new music ensembles such as Ensemble Modern, International Contemporary Ensemble, Ensemble Signal, Remix Ensemble, Grossman Ensemble, and Alarm Will Sound.
Hou is on the faculty of Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music, where he is Artist Teacher of Orchestras and Ensembles. He lives in Houston with his wife Jenny and son Remy, and has competed on the game show Jeopardy!
ARTIST IN RESIDENCE - Graeme Steele Johnson
Praised as “technically and interpretively impeccable and passionately communicative” (Boston Musical Intelligencer), Graeme Steele Johnson is an artist of uncommon imagination and versatility.
The clarinetist, curator and “musical detective” (New York Classical Review) garnered international attention for his rediscovery and reconstruction of a 125-year-old Octet by Charles Martin Loeffler, profiled in a full-page spread by The Washington Post. Released on his debut album Forgotten Sounds, Johnson’s world-premiere recording of the work was named one of The New York Times’ Best Classical Music Albums of 2024, nominated for a Gramophone Classical Music Award, and awarded BBC Music Magazine’s Chamber Choice. As Artistic Director of the Loeffler Octet touring ensemble, Johnson led the Octet’s first present-day performances at the Library of Congress, Morgan Library, La Jolla Music Society, Harvard Musical Association, Chamber Music Northwest and many more.
Widely in demand as a chamber musician, Johnson has also performed recently at Ravinia, Newport Classical and the Bridgehampton, Rockport, Moab, Phoenix, Cooperstown and Orcas Island Chamber Music Festivals, and in recital at the Muse Salentine Festival in Italy. He has appeared as soloist with the San Diego Symphony Orchestra, Vienna International Orchestra, Springfield Symphony Orchestra and Caroga Arts Ensemble.
Since 2022 Johnson has served as the clarinetist of the award-winning quintet WindSync, “a major force in the American chamber music landscape” (Arts and Culture Texas). Johnson has also collaborated with such distinguished artists as Jon Kimura Parker, David Shifrin, Ida and Ani Kavafian, Peter Wiley and Bridget Kibbey, as well as the Miró, Balourdet, Aeolus, Callisto and KASA Quartets, Imani Winds, New York New Music Ensemble, Copland House Ensemble, Twelfth Night Ensemble and NEXUS Chamber Music.
Admired for his creative curation and engaging communication, Johnson has presented a TEDx talk comparing Mozart and Seinfeld, and serves as Artistic Director of the Onstage Offstage Chamber Music Festival in Houston. Driven by his interest in shedding fresh perspective on familiar music, he is known for providing incisive commentary from the stage and in writing, in essays and program notes published widely in journals, concert programs and album booklets. He has also authored numerous chamber arrangements that have been heard around the world, including performances by the Boston Symphony Chamber Players, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra (Australia), Moscow Conservatory, La Jolla Music Society and Krzyżowa Chamber Music Festival (Poland).
Johnson is the winner of the Hellam Young Artists’ Competition and the Yamaha Young Performing Artists Competition; other recent accolades include the Saint Botolph Club Foundation's Emerging Artist Award and the inaugural Lee Memorial Scholarship from the Center for Musical Excellence. He holds an exclusive recording contract with Delos/Outhere Music, and has previously recorded for Hyperion Records, Azica Records, MSR Classics and Musica Solis Productions.
Under the tutelage of Charles Neidich and Kofi Agawu, Johnson earned a doctoral degree from The Graduate Center of the City University of New York, where his research won the Elebash Dissertation Award. Previously, he earned two master’s degrees from the Yale School of Music, where he studied with David Shifrin and Ricardo Morales, and completed undergraduate study at The University of Texas at Austin with Nathan Williams.
artist in residence - Brittany Lasch
A winner of the S&R Foundation Washington Award and Astral Artists National Auditions, trombonist Brittany Lasch brings authenticity and unshakeable commitment to all aspects of her music-making. Increasingly in demand as a soloist with orchestras and brass bands alike, Brittany balances an intensive performance career with her role as a sought-after educator and Assistant Professor of Trombone at the renowned Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University. As a serial collaborator and commissioner of composers, Brittany is a musical explorer creating new repertoire for her instrument from some of today’s most compelling voices, and true ambassador in expanding recognition for the trombone as a powerful solo voice for today.
Brittany has appeared as a soloist with ensembles ranging from the U.S. Army Band “Pershing’s Own”, Rodney Marsalis Philadelphia Big Brass, and for concerto performances with the Queens Symphony, National Repertory Orchestra, Bucks County Symphony, Bowling Green Philharmonia, Manhattan School of Music Philharmonia, and others across the country. With playing described as “masterful” (Syracuse Post-Standard), American Record Guide recently hailed Brittany as an “excellent soloist” across a diverse range of repertoire.
Brittany has been a featured guest artist at numerous festivals, including the International Trombone Festival, the International Women’s Brass Conference, and the American Trombone Workshop. She was a winner of the National Collegiate Solo Competition hosted by the U.S. Army Band, the Eisenberg-Fried Brass Concerto Competition at the Manhattan School of Music, the Zulalian Foundation Award in Boston. Her trombone quartet Boston Based won the 2017 International Trombone Association’s Quartet Competition. In 2018, Brittany was awarded 2nd place in The American Prize Solo Instrumentalist competition. A prizewinner in numerous other competitions, she received the coveted John Clark Award upon graduation from the Manhattan School of Music for outstanding accomplishment in brass performance.
For six seasons, Brittany was the Principal Trombone of the Detroit Opera Orchestra at the Detroit Opera House. She has performed with orchestras nationwide, including the San Francisco Symphony, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Indianapolis Symphony, St. Louis Symphony, Detroit Symphony, Nashville Symphony, The Florida Orchestra, Toledo Symphony Orchestra, ProMusica Chamber Orchestra, Rhode Island Philharmonic, the Oregon Bach Festival Orchestra, the Vermont Symphony, Albany Symphony, Syracuse Symphony, and the New World Symphony in Miami Beach. She participated in the Verbier Festival Orchestra for two summers, and has also appeared at the Spoleto USA Festival, the Pacific Music Festival in Sapporo, Japan, the Castleton Festival, and the Aspen Music Festival. An active presence in the global trombone community, Brittany’s performances for the current and past seasons include Argentina’s Trombonanza, Portugal’s Gravíssimo Festival, as well as appearances in Japan and Korea.
As an advocate for new music, Brittany has commissioned and performed several new pieces for the trombone, including acclaimed composer Reena Esmail’s major Sonata for Trombone and Piano, which she commissioned for her Astral Artists recital in Philadelphia. Brittany gave the premiere of the orchestrated version of Martin Kennedy’s Theme and Variations for Trombone and Orchestra with the BGSU Philharmonia under the direction of Dr. Emily Brown. She also recorded the work with the BGSU Philharmonia, which was recently released on the Albany Records label. Other recent projects include collaborations with composers Inez McComas, Adam Har-zvi, and David Miller. Her debut solo album, Dark Horse (2024), features works by Samuel Adler, Tony Plog, Reena Esmail, Shawn Davern, and the album’s pianist, Thomas Weaver. The album was recently awarded a Silver Medal from Global Music Awards.
A native of Park Ridge, Illinois, Brittany earned her Doctor of Musical Arts degree from Boston University, where she received the Brass Department Award. She also holds a Master of Music degree from Yale School of Music. With a deep commitment to education, she has previously served as faculty at the College of Musical Arts at Bowling Green State University and the Boston University Tanglewood Institute. She has also been a featured teacher and performer at summer festivals, including the Sewanee Music Festival and the DC Trombone Workshop.
Recent residencies include those at the University of Central Arkansas, James Madison University (Tromblow’in), University of Iowa, Oklahoma State University, Stetson University, the University of Florida, and as the guest artist at the 2023 Frühling Posaunen hosted at Ithaca College. She has presented masterclasses at universities across the country and internationally.
Brittany Lasch is an Edwards Trombone Performing Artist. She also proudly uses and endorses ChopSaver Lip Care. Outside of music, Brittany has recently completed her eleventh full marathon and loves spending time with her cats Clove and Poppy.
artist in residence - Gabriel Lefkowitz
American violinist and conductor Gabriel Lefkowitz has captivated audiences throughout the U.S. and abroad in a dynamic and multi-faceted career as a performer, creator, and educator.
Gabriel is the Concertmaster & Resident Conductor of The Louisville Orchestra, Music Director of the Louisville Youth Orchestra, Artistic Director of The Chamber Orchestra of Louisville, and is active as a soloist, guest conductor, guest concertmaster, chamber musician, and teacher. A progressive musician of the 21st century, Gabriel is also a composer who has written the music for several video games, composed several full length albums of original music, and was the featured violin soloist on the soundtrack for the film Harriet (Focus Features).
At The Louisville Orchestra, Gabriel serves as Resident Conductor in addition to his role as Concertmaster. He can be seen on the podium in concert series including the LO's statewide In Harmony Tour, Pops, Films, Music Without Borders, OrKIDStra, and more.
Gabriel is Founder & Artistic Director of The Chamber Orchestra of Louisville, with 2025-2026 marking the third season of this dynamic professional ensemble, featuring three performances of chamber orchestra repertoire.
Starting with the 2025-2026 Season, Gabriel assumes the post of Music Director of the Louisville Youth Orchestra, where he will lead and oversee the artistic efforts of the region's premiere youth oriented arts non-profit and its nearly 500 students, and where he will conduct the organization's top ensemble, the Symphony Orchestra.
As former Artistic Director & Conductor of the Louisville Civic Orchestra (2020-2025), Gabriel led the organization to new artistic heights and civic distinction for its high quality performances, diverse programming and audience engagement, and fundraising/outreach initiatives on behalf of homeless shelters, cancer support networks, and healthcare workers.
Gabriel has conducted ensembles around the country and abroad including Pro Arte Chamber Orchestra of Boston and a vast array of youth orchestras including those of of Boston, Taiwan, Knoxville, Central Kentucky, and Juilliard’s Pre-College division.
During his 9-year tenure as Concertmaster of The Louisville Orchestra so far, Gabriel has led over 200 different programs from the concertmaster chair and has performed the violin concerti of Tchaikovsky, Stravinsky, Bach, Vivaldi, and others. In October 2019, Gabriel performed on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon with LO music director Teddy Abrams, Jim James, and several LO colleagues to promote the orchestra's new album The Order of Nature.
In 2011, at the age of 23, Gabriel became one of the youngest concertmasters of a professional orchestra in the U.S. when he was appointed Concertmaster of the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra. During his 6-year tenure with KSO, Gabriel performed the concerti of Brahms, Tchaikovsky, Korngold, Mozart (No. 3), and others. He also founded the KSO’s still beloved and wildly successful Concertmaster Series (then called Gabriel Lefkowitz & Friends) at which he performed over 30 recitals (16 different programs with no overlapping repertoire) over the course of 5 seasons.
Recent guest engagements include concerto performances of Brahms (Brevard Philharmonic), Stravinsky (Monteux School and Music Festival Orchestra), Florence Price No. 1 (McConnell Arts Center Chamber Orchestra - the Ohio premiere of this work), Mozart No. 4 (Cape Cod Chamber Orchestra), Mozart No. 5 (Oak Ridge Symphony), Philip Glass No. 1 (Ocala Symphony), and performing as guest concertmaster with the Phoenix Symphony, Brevard Music Center, Britt Festival Orchestra, the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, and Nu Deco Ensemble.
Under the alias Green Forge Studio Gabriel has composed the soundtracks for multiple video games, including the recent releases Aces & Adventures and Pop-Up Dungeon. He also created music for the multi-million dollar theme resort Ancient Lore Village in East Tennessee. His concert music has been performed by the Phoenix Symphony, the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra, the Owensboro Symphony Orchestra, and the Dubuque Festival Orchestra. He has released four original albums (and one Christmas album!) to YouTube, and his music has been enjoyed by over a million users on the platform, in addition to being licensed by a multitude of content creators, podcasters, and Twitch streamers.
Gabriel holds a Bachelor’s degree from Columbia University where he studied music and economics, and a Masters from The Juilliard School where he studied violin with Joel Smirnoff and Masao Kawasaki. He has studied conducting with pedagogues including Michael Jinbo, Markand Thakar, Larry Rachleff, David Effron, and others.
composer in residence - yiwen shen
Dr. Yiwen Shen is a Chinese conductor, composer, and pianist. He currently teaches at the Chinese University of Hong Kong (Shenzhen) School of Music, The Tianjin Juilliard School, the Zhejiang Conservatory of Music, and the Montecito International Music Festival during the summer.
Hailed as “a jaunty, vibrantly scored canvas” and “with a lucid, economical lyricism” by the New York Times, Shen’s compositions have been performed in all six habitable continents. His awards include the ASCAP Morton Gould Young Composers Award, Gena Raps String Quartet Award, and Arthur Friedman Prize; first prize from SCI/ASCAP Composition Commission; second prize from the First China Clarinet Composition Competition; winner of the Nashville Symphony’s Composer Lab, Minnesota Orchestra’s Composer Institute, and Albany Symphony’s Composer to Center Stage Competition; two top prizes from Chinese National Composition Competitions, Chinese Golden Bell Award, and Distinguished Achievement of the Year in Music Composition in Shanghai.
Other highlights include major orchestral premieres with the Minnesota Orchestra, Nashville Symphony, American Symphony, Albany Symphony, Beijing Symphony, Shanghai Symphony, Shanghai Opera House Orchestra, Bowling Green Philharmonic, Juilliard Orchestra, and Bard Conservatory Orchestra for its first international tour of China. He has successfully collaborated with renowned conductors, including Osmo Vänskä, Giancarlo Guerrero, David Alan Miller, Leon Botstein, Emily Freeman Brown, Jeffrey Milarsky, Zhang Guoyong, Zhang Yi, Zhang Jiemin, and Lin Daye.
His full-length ballet, The Crane Calling, premiered in 2015, was commissioned by the National Ballet of China, following the great success of a preceding collaboration Hamlet in 2014. The Crane Calling toured over 30 cities in China and received its European debut in 2017 and North American debut in 2018. He has also had works commissioned by and premiered at the Carnegie Hall. In 2018, he was commissioned by the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra and the MISA Festival to launch the first self-produced symphonic film concert "The Book of Heaven". His music has also been commissioned and performed by ensembles such as Aeolus String Quartet, Omer String Quartet, Colorado String Quartet, Da Capo Chamber Players, Music from China Ensemble, TALEA Ensemble, Dal Niente Ensemble, The New York Virtuoso Singers, among others.
As a conductor, Shen received the 1st Prize at The Second Hiroshima International Conductors Competition, along with the “Orchestra Award”, “Audience Award”, and “Hosokawa Award”. He is also the 1st prizewinner of the Vienna International Conducting Competition "Wiener Schule," the Los Angeles Conducting Competition, and the Atlanta International Conductors Competition, the top prize winner of the BMI Bucharest International Conducting Competition, and the recipient of the President's Award from European Music Academy. He has conducted the Shenzhen Symphony, National Ballet of China Symphony, Hiroshima Symphony Orchestra, Hiroshima Wind Orchestra, Hiroshima Festival Orchestra, Silesian Philharmonic, North Czech Philharmonic, Karlovy Vary Symphony, MÁV Symphony, Orchestra of Magna Graecia, Royal Camerata, Bucharest Philharmonic, Bucharest Symphony, Brasov Philharmonic, Joseph Haydn Symphony, Juilliard Orchestra, Tianjin Juilliard Orchestra, Prince George's Philharmonic (MD), University of Maryland's Symphony and Repertoire Orchestras, as well as the Monteux Festival Orchestra.
Shen’s piano playing has been praised as “deftly” by the New York Times and “impeccable” by Seen And Heard International Concert Review. He has soloed with the Bard Conservatory Orchestra and the New Juilliard Ensemble and played with the Axiom Ensemble at Lincoln Center. He can also be heard in recording on Chinese Bamboo Flute Master Tang Junqiao’s Magical Flute of China, released by Channels Classics Records in 2007.
Shen holds a dual bachelor’s in composition and German studies from Bard College and its conservatory, a master’s in conducting from the University of Maryland, and a master’s and a doctorate in composition from Juilliard. His composition teachers include Joan Tower, George Tsontakis, and Samuel Adler, and his conducting mentors are James Ross, José-Luis Novo, and Michael Jinbo. Shen has taught at New York Juilliard from 2011 to 2016 and has served as Tianjin Juilliard’s inaugural Assistant Dean of Performance Activities from 2019 to 2023.