YOC Music Director

	Music Director, Conductor/String Faculty: Christopher Chung	A native of Kaohsiung, Taiwan, Mr. Chung began his musical studies in piano, violin and cello at the ages of five and nine. Following a successful musical career in high school, he attended the National Taiwan Normal University where he majored in cello, minored in piano and was awarded the Certificate of Music Education. Upon moving to the United States, Mr. Chung studied under the tutelage of cellist Peter Wiley (of Guarneri String Quartet), at Conservatory of Music at Purchase College, SUNY, where he received both his Bachelor's and Master's Degrees in Music Performance. Mr. Chung's wide professional experience encompasses symphony orchestra and chamber music performances, conducting, teaching, studio recording and administration. He served as Associate Principal Cellist of the Taipei Symphony Orchestra, Principal Cellist of the Yin-Qi Symphony Orchestra & Chorus, and the Yin-Qi Chamber Orchestra in Taiwan. He performed with the Chinese Community Chamber Orchestra at Carnegie Hall, New York Symphony Orchestra and the Amadeus String Quartet and Piano Trio. Mr. Chung's teaching positions were at the Guang-Ren High School, Xi-Men Elementary School, and Guan-Du Christian College in Taiwan. He has been serving as the Music Director, cello and piano instructor at the Song of Songs Music School, Eastern School of Music, Amadeus Conservatory of Music, and Melody Time Music Center in the United States. In 2003, he was the Music Director and featured cellist for the world premiere of an original Chinese-language adaptation of A Streetcar Named Desire at the Hwa-Sun Culture Center in Taipei, Taiwan. With Youth Orchestra, CYCNY, at Alice Tully Hall of Lincoln Center, Chung performed Elgar's Cello Concerto as soloist in 2010, and Chung conducted the World Premiere of Yasuhiko Fukuoka's "Journey of a Thousand Miles" in 2012; the world premiere of Steve Margoshes's "Symphony Dance from FAME- The Musical", as well as the US Premiere of Shui-Long Ma's "Searching" Concerto for Gu-Zheng and Orchestra, with Hao-Yin Huang as Gu-Zheng soloist in 2013. Mr. Chung has long believed that music has the power to transform lives, to transcend cultures and languages and to bring people together in important and lasting ways. It is for this reason that he dedicates his life toward inspiring a new generation of young musicians to pursue their dreams through the challenging and life-changing process of music education.

	Music Director Dr.Jeffrey Liang	Conductor and trombonist Jeffrey Liang graduated from Manhattan School of Music, Yale University, and the State University of New York at Stony Brook where he earned his Doctor of Musical Arts degree. As the conductor of Youth Orchestra CYCNY since 1999, he was appointed the Music Director starting this 2002-03 season. Born in Taipei, Taiwan, Jeffrey Liang began his study of trombone at age sixteen. In 1994 he continued his instruction in the United States, first with Mr. Hal Janks then under the tutelage of Dr. Per Brevig at Manhattan School of Music. After receiving his bachelor’s degree from Manhattan School of Music, he was awarded Charles H. Ditson Scholarship to Yale University School of Music to study trombone with Prof. John Swallow and conducting with Prof. Shinik Hahm. In May 2000, Mr. Liang received his master degree from Yale and was awarded a full scholarship to State University of New York at Stony Brook studying with Prof. Michael Powell and serving as teaching assistant with Prof. Bruce Engel at the Stony Brook Wind Ensemble. In May 2002, Mr. Liang received his doctor of musical arts degree and became the first Taiwanese trombone doctor. As the principal trombonist of North America Elite Orchestra since 1995, Mr. Liang has toured with the orchestra throughout Asia and United States. As an international soloist, Mr. Liang has been featured with ensembles such as the Stony Brook Graduate Orchestra, Stony Brook Wind Ensemble, Shock Concert Band, and Taiwan National Yan-Min University Wind Ensemble. The highlight of Mr. Liang’s solo appearance was performing De Meji’s “T-Bone Concerto” in its Taiwan premiere with the Hua-Lien United Wind Symphony this summer. The pre-concert interview was broadcast by the City Radio Station throughout Eastern Taiwan. In July 1995, Mr. Liang was invited to play for President Lee of Taiwan with the Elite Brass Quintet. In November 1999, joined by pianist Joyce Lin, Mr. Liang gave a recital at Yale University in honor of the victims of the September 1999 earthquake that killed more than three thousand and left eighty thousand homeless. As a dedicated chamber musician, Mr. Liang founded the Metropolitan Brass Quintet of New York in 2000 and made their Weill Recital Hall debut on April 13, 2002. As an active musician, Mr. Liang has appeared on the stages of Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, Kennedy Center, Dallas Meyerson Hall, Merkin Concert Hall, Staller Center for the Arts, Singapore Victoria Hall, Seoul Arts Center in South Korea, as well as the National Concert Hall of Taiwan. Mr. Liang is currently the Music Director of Shock Concert Band, Director of St. Joseph – St. Thomas Elementary School, Assistant Director of the Christ King High School Wind Ensemble, Founder and Executive Director of the Metropolitan Brass Quintet. He is also an annual guest of Taiwan Hua-Lien Wind Camp where he gives master classes during the summer.

	String Faculty: Dr. Chiang Sheng Johnny Kuo	A Taiwan native, raised in Long Island New York, Dr. Chiang Sheng Johnny Kuo is the eldest of 4 siblings. As an adolescent he developed a passion for both medicine and classical music. In High School he studied the art of Violin at the Manhattan School of Music and succeeded into Julliard Pre-College Division where he earned the privilege to play with the New York Youth Symphony. An honor for young Kuo considering renowned violinist Cho-Liang Lin had played with this orchestra the year before. This level of commitment and passion translated into his college years as he decided and became the first of his siblings to pursue medicine. He completed his undergraduate and graduate medical training at University of Buffalo. He continued on to earn his PH.D at Columbia University and ultimately a Master’s of Art Degree in Music Education at Columbia University’s Teachers College. Shortly after graduation, Dr. Kuo served in various healthcare positions at the Director level most recently at the New York Gracie Square Hospital affiliate with New York Presbyterian Hospital where he has served as Chief Operating Officer for 11 years.