Jon McCaslin

Christine Chen

Violin Instructor

Christine is a versatile musician who thrives on performing and teaching a wide array of musical genres, from classical and pop, EDM and beyond. Following her return from the United States, she currently performs with the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, Red Deer Symphony, and serves as Assistant Concertmaster for the Calgary Civic Symphony. 

Christine is an alumni of the Academy program at Mount Royal University Conservatory and the Calgary Youth Orchestra. She earned both her Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees from the University of Calgary, studying under Edmond Agopian. She further honed her artistry at the Boston Conservatory at Berklee, where she studied with acclaimed mentors including Paul Laraia of the Catalyst String Quartet and Lynn Chang. During her time there, she won the 2021–2022 Honors Chamber Music Competition and served as concertmaster for ensembles such as the Musical Theater Orchestra, String Orchestra, Symphony Orchestra, Composers and Conductors Orchestra. Notably, she made her Carnegie Hall debut as a first-prize winner of the Concert Artist International Competition. In Boston, she had the opportunity to performed the Sibelius Violin Concerto with the Boston Conservatory Orchestra.

Christine’s career spans a diverse range of performances, from intimate concert halls to world-class arenas. Her collaborations include celebrated artists like Michael Bublé, Richard Clayderman, astronaut Chris Hadfield, jazz legend Kenny Barron, and Silkroad. She has also worked with Grammy-winning composer Nan Schwartz and recorded for major projects, including films and pop tracks for artists such as China’s mega boy band TNT (時代少年團).

While in Los Angeles, Christine was a contractor for music production companies like Audiomachine, performed with the acclaimed Led Zeppelin tribute band, Led Zepagain as well as performed in the Tony-winning musical Spring Awakening at the East West Players Theater in Little Tokyo, sharing the stage with actress Tamlyn Tomita and Daniel Blinkoff.

Christine's passion for music, paired with her adaptability and artistry, continues to drive her forward as a sought-after performer and educator across diverse musical landscapes. Christine is a RCM gold medal teacher and strongly believes in ‘Every Child Can.”