YUNZHU CHEN

cyz134679@hotmail.com u www.izzychen.com u (+86)15010850866

EDUCATION
Smith College, Northampton, MA
B.A. degree with high honors in Music (2016) Major: Music Cumulative GPA: 3.81
Honors Project in Composition: Music in Senses

Awards:
• The Harriet Dey Barnum Prize for Outstanding Work in Music to the Best All-Around Student of Music in
the Senior Class (2016);
• The Settie Lehman Fatman Prize for the Best Composition in Music (2016);
• The Carlile Prize for the Best Original Composition or Transcription for Carillon (2016);
• The Margaret Collins Stoop Adesso Prize for the Best New Choral Work (2015);
• The Dean’s List (2013-2016);
• Intercollegiate Horse Show Association Academic Awards (2013-2016)
• Scholar-Athletes Awards (2013-2016)
• Coach’s Cup for Improvement in Riding (2015)
• Smith College Equestrian Team’s Rookie Award (2014)

EXPERIENCE
Shareholder & Manager February 2017 – July 2018
STAGE & LIFE Beijing, China
• Co-founded and managed Let Ideas (www.letideas.cn), a PR agency specializing in digital
communications and marketing for music, culture and performing arts
• Contributed to the integrated strategy and establishment of the all-encompassing classical music
platform including:
o A classical music database (classicaltutto.com) with a comprehensive catalogue of worldwide
performers, orchestras, concert halls, institutions, festivals, and publishers
o A classical music news portal comprised of a website (musictoday.cn) that serves as a stable
host, and two social media accounts (Weibo: Österreichische Musikalische and WeChat:
musictoday.cn, now with over 350K followers) to ensure instant information delivery and
active interactions with users
• Managed and contributed to the social media accounts and musictoday.cn
• Produced and edited promotional films; initiated and launched successful social media campaigns on
Weibo and WeChat (major Chinese social media platforms) including:
o Yo-Yo Ma & Youth Music Culture Guangdong (YMCG 2018) which received over 20 million
page views on Weibo
o NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra and Shanghai Orchestra Academy in Shanghai which
received over 2 million video views on Weibo
o Artistic Engagement Programme-China 2018 in Shanghai, Chengdu, and Lanzhou with video
views exceeding 4 million on Weibo
• Coordinated the Mariinsky Theatre’s participation in the National Centre for Performing Arts’
International Opera Film Exhibition during which two Mariinsky opera films were screened in four
cinemas

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• Conducted interviews with international leaders in classical music industry including Jaap van Zweden,
Gianandrea Noseda, and Peter Ruzicka
• Translated English programmes of over 47000 words into Chinese for the Beijing Music Festival 2017
and 2018

Project Manager February 2017 – July 2018

AMADEUS.TV Beijing, China
• Initiated and followed up collaborations with prominent organizations including the Berlin
Philharmonic Orchestra, Mariinsky Theatre, Philharmonia Orchestra, EuroArts, and Cameron Pace
Group
• Co-founded Livetutto.cn – the Chinese Classical Music Online Streaming League
• Oversaw the project of launching the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra’s Digital Concert Hall streaming
services in China and drafted the business plan
• Coordinated the filming of the first classical concert produced in 8K/HDR/HFR format – the Berlin
Philharmonic Orchestra’s first tour in Guangzhou at Guangzhou Opera House
• Co-produced the concert filming and streaming of NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra and Shanghai
Orchestra Academy in Shanghai and the first Cuiheng New Year’s Concert in Cuiheng, Guangdong,
China
• Co-directed the streaming of the Shanghai Isaac Stern International Violin Competition
• Drafted Letters of Intent and License Agreements for collaborations with all international partners

TOEFL Teacher October 2016 – February 2017

NEW ORIENTAL SCHOOL Chengdu, China
• Taught TOEFL reading and speaking to students in age from middle school to college in both private
lessons and big classes
• Communicated promptly with students, parents and assistant teachers about the students’ learning
progress and assignments

Production Intern June 2016 – August 2016

AMERICAN COMPOSERS ORCHESTRA New York City, NY
• Organized, catalogued and maintained the American Composers Orchestra’s archives of recordings and
programme notes
• Developed a new archival system for the scores of ACO’s commissioned works
• Assisted in preparations for concert productions, including organizing equipment for rehearsals and
performances and communicating with composers and guest artists

Music Director November 2015 – March 2016

ORLANDO PRODUCTION TEAM Northampton, MA
• Organized and conducted group and individual music rehearsals with eight singers and four musicians
to achieve optimum effect in music performances; assisted with incorporating music into staging
• Aided in auditioning the actors and musicians and formulating a modernized show concept and
rehearsal schedules that worked for all concerned chorus and musicians
• Harmonized the creative intentions of the composer and the practical ability of the chorus and
musicians

Conducting Intern September 2015 – May 2016

FLORENCE COMMUNITY BAND Northampton, MA

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• Led approximately 50 musicians to produce effective and creative rehearsals and developed a concrete
yet unique conducting style and stage presence
• Conducted three pieces in the band’s Holiday Concert and one in the Fall Concert
• Designed artistic posters for the concerts and assisted in publicizing their events

Composer and Music Director January – April 2015

FORGE OF THE SWORDS PRODUCTION TEAM Northampton, MA & Middletown, CT
• Composed six pieces for the chorus and accompanying music for eight Chinese traditional
instrumentalists
• Scheduled and led music rehearsals with musicians of the Chinese Music Ensemble at Wesleyan
University
• Conducted music rehearsals with the chorus consisting of mostly amateur singers, and improved their
confidence and singing performance in a short period of time

Cultural Chair September 2014 – May 2015

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS’ ORGANIZATION Northampton, MA
• Motivated ISO members to participate in ISO’s cultural events
• Organized and ensured the success of ISO’s events including Rhythm Nations, Senior Banquet, and I.S.
Day

ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCE
• Student of Music Production Summer School at dBs Music Berlin (July – August 2018)
• Equestrian Team (2013-2016);
• Composition Student at the Ostrava Days Institute, a biennial three-week Institute and Festival for new
and experimental music located in Ostrava, Czech Republic (August 2015);
• Participant at the Creative Musicians Retreat, a week-long music festival in New Hampshire held by the
Walden School where students take classes, sing in chorus, attend improvisation workshops, and
participate in Composers Forum (June 2014 and June 2015);
• Smith College Chorus (2012-2013)

SKILLS and INTERESTS

• Fluent Chinese;
• Computer Skills:
o Music: Ableton Live; Sibelius; Max/MSP; Reaper;
o Digital Media: Photoshop; Final Cut Pro;
o Programming Languages: Python; Processing;
• Contemporary art, digital media and interactive multimedia;
• Costume design; lighting design;
• Writing music reviews;
• Piano study for 12 years