Chamber Music Program

CHAMBER MUSIC PROGRAM

The chamber music is a program for students learning to discover the true meaning of comradery, responsibility and accountability and music making in a more intimate and personal way. With the guidance of world class instructors, this program is a combination of students organizing their own rehearsals and having coaching sessions with their assigned coach leading up to their recital at the end of the semester.
Recitals will take place in assisted living homes and some public venues in McKinney and Frisco.

The chamber music program is only available for Young Artist and Symphony Orchestras only.

CHAMBER MUSIC STUDENTS AND THEIR COACHES PERFORM AT ASSISTED LIVING CENTERS in MCKINNEY.

CHAMBER MUSIC COACHES

STRINGS CHAMBER MUSIC COACH (Volunteer)
Hsun Chen, Cello Principal, McKinney Philharmonic Orchestra

Ms. Chen was born in Taiwan and began her musical studies at the age of four and continued studying until receiving her master’s degree. Recently, she just received the Performer’s Diploma in Cello Performance from the Meadows School of the Art at Southern Methodist University, where she studied with renowned soloist Andrés Díaz.

As an orchestra member in Taiwan, she has toured including Hong-Kong, Italy, and Israel. In addition, she has won several cello competitions and has been recognized for her achievements. In the past few years, Ms. Chen has appeared at the Josef Gingold Chamber Music Festival “Re-Imagined”, Round Top Festival Institute, National Orchestral Institute+ Festival, and Cremona International Music Academy in Italy. She’s passion for music has led to numerous solo and chamber music performance opportunities in masterclasses for Gary Hoffman, Thomas Landshoot, Uri Vardi, Jérôme Pinget, Paul Katz, Diotima String Quartet, Dover Quartet, Escher Quartet, and many others.

Ms. Chen is Suzuki Certified Teacher in Suzuki Cello Books 1 and 2. And she is currently building a studio in Dallas, Texas. Besides teaching, she has been a piano accompanist of Dallas Philharmonic Choir since 2018.

STRINGS CHAMBER MUSIC COACH,
Danny Jordan, Viola Principal, McKinney Philharmonic Orchestra

Violist Danny Jordan is a current resident of The Colony, TX. They recently have returned to the Dallas area after completion of a Master of Music Degree in Viola Performance at the Cleveland Institute of Music, under the tutelage of Mark Jackobs. Lauded by audiences as “outstanding,” with a “sound that enraptures,” past awards and accolades include Finalist in the Meadows School of the Arts Concerto Competition, Meadows Scholar Award, Finalist in the 2022 New World Symphony Audition Tour, National Merit Scholar Award, and two-time winner of the Meadows School of the Arts Honors Chamber Music Competition. Prior to their admission to the Cleveland Institute of Music, they completed a Bachelor of Music Degree in Viola Performance from Southern Methodist University, graduating Summa Cum Laude.

Jordan has extensive solo, chamber, and orchestral performance experience in some of the most prestigious concert halls in Texas and Ohio, including Jones Hall in Houston, the Meyerson Symphony Center, Moody Performance Hall, Severance Hall, and Winspear Opera House. Solo performance experience includes multiple public recital performances in and around Cleveland, Dallas, and Houston, including a performance as a featured soloist for Cleveland Repertory Orchestra’s 2022 Benefit Recital. Orchestral experience includes performances with Houston Youth Symphony, Meadows Symphony and Opera Orchestras, San Angelo Symphony, Cleveland Institute of Music Symphony Orchestra, Texas Music Festival Symphony Orchestra and Cleveland Repertory Orchestra, with experience performing as principal viola in the Meadows School of the Arts, Cleveland Institute of Music, and Cleveland Repertory Orchestras. Jordan has performed under the baton of phenomenal conductors such as JoAnn Falletta, Hans Graf, Carlos Kalmar, Sey Ahn, and Phillip Mann. Chamber Music experience includes performances alongside the Escher Quartet and the formation of two full-time string quartets, as well as performances in masterclasses for the Pacifica, Dover, and Elias Quartets.

In addition to their performance experience, Jordan is an avid educator, working with violists and violinists of all ages in individual and group settings for the last decade. Their students have earned entry into a variety of ensembles and programs, including Houston Youth Symphony, Cleveland School of the Arts, the Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra, and various All-Region Ensembles across the state of Texas. In addition to their work in classical music, Jordan also spends time tutoring in Spanish, as well as various maths and sciences. In their free time, they enjoy cooking, hiking, playing with their dog Alfie, and making music with their closest friends. Jordan performs on a viola made by Alan and Sarah Balmforth in Seattle, WA in 1999.

BRASS CHAMBER MUSIC COACH
Dr. William Pratt. Principal Trumpet, McKinney Philharmonic Orchestra

A native of Columbus, GA, Will Pratt is an active performer and instructor in the DFW area. In addition to playing principal trumpet with the McKinney Philharmonic, Will plays principal trumpet with the Sherman Symphony and second trumpet with the Abilene Philharmonic. Will has also performed with The Dallas Opera, Louisiana Philharmonic, Wichita Falls Symphony, Las Colinas Symphony, and Richardson Symphony Orchestras. Will is the Adjunct Instructor of Trumpet at Tarrant County College in Arlington, TX, and Austin College in Sherman, TX. Most recently, he served on the faculty for the inaugural North Texas Brass Week in Frisco, TX. Will maintains a large studio of middle and high school students in Frisco and Coppell Independent School Districts. His students have earned placements in the Georgia, Louisiana, and Texas all-state bands, and have been recognized as semi-finalists and quarter-finalists of the National Trumpet Competition solo divisions. Will holds a Bachelor of Music from Columbus State University, a Master of Music from Southeastern Louisiana University, and a Doctorate of Musical Arts from the University of North Texas. His hobbies include long-distance running and watching the Atlanta Braves.

WOODWIND CHAMBER MUSIC COACH
Kristin Perry, Principal Oboe, McKinney Philharmonic Orchestra

Kristin Perry is an oboist originally from Avon, Indiana, who currently lives in Fort Worth. She received her Master’s degree from the Cleveland Institute of Music as a student of Jeff Rathbun and her Bachelor’s degree from Indiana University, studying with Roger Roe and Linda Strommen. Kristin also studied with Daniel Stolper at the Interlochen Arts Academy.

Kristin is currently the principal oboist of both the Las Colinas Symphony and the McKinney Philharmonic Orchestras, where she has played since 2017. Before moving to Texas, she was an oboist and Fellow with the Civic Orchestra of Chicago. Kristin frequently performs as a substitute musician with the Fort Worth Symphony, and is an active freelancer across the DFW metroplex. She has performed with several other orchestras, including the Cleveland Orchestra, Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, Shreveport Symphony, Dallas Chamber Symphony, Richardson Symphony, Orchestra Iowa, Mansfield Symphony Orchestra, Firelands Symphony Orchestra, City Music Cleveland, Opera Western Reserve, Cleveland Opera Theater, Erie Chamber Orchestra, Youngstown Symphony Orchestra, Warren Philharmonic, Oistrakh Symphony, and the New Philharmonic of Irving. Kristin has attended numerous summer festivals including the Tanglewood Music Center, Brevard Music Center, Kent/Blossom Music Festival, Domaine Forget, and the
Interlochen Arts Camp.
She has been teaching private oboe lessons for over a decade, and has experience teaching in group and classroom settings as well.
Before learning the oboe, Kristin began taking piano lessons at the age of four. In grade school, she briefly studied the harp and flute before finally discovering her true passion for the oboe.