Ju Dee Ang
violin and viola | vancouver, bc
(604) 445 8675 (call or text)
about me
I moved to Vancouver a few years ago from Madison, Wisconsin where I completed a Doctor of Musical Arts degree and was a member of the graduate string quartet. At the University of Wisconsin, I studied with Sally Chisholm of the Pro Arte Quartet. In Madison, I also participated in live radio broadcast performances on Wisconsin Public Radio, one of them featuring the Mendelssohn Octet with the Pro Arte Quartet. Previously, I completed a Master of Music degree at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, where I studied with Atar Arad (formerly of the Cleveland Quartet) and also studied violin/viola pedagogy with well-known pedagogue Mimi Zweig. I learned a lot from Mimi not just about teaching violin but also what forms the basis of good technique.
I have been a fellow at the Music Academy of the West in Santa Barbara, an intense summer program where I studied with Donald McInnes (USC). I also participated in the Aspen Music Festival in lovely Aspen, Colorado, studying there with Naoko Tanaka (Juilliard). I have been lucky to have opportunities to play in masterclasses for the Takács and Miró string quartets, Hank Dutt of the Kronos Quartet, and Peter Oundjian.
In the Vancouver area, I am currently performing with the Pro Nova Ensemble, which has had a regular quartet concert series on the north shore for over 30 years (www.pronova.ca). I have also played with a number of orchestras in the region, including the Vancouver Symphony, Vancouver Island Symphony, Vancouver Metropolitan Orchestra, and Chilliwack Symphony. I'm trying to get some private chamber music projects going as well, but that is a longer-term project. I previously performed with the Dubuque and Madison symphonies, as well as the Singapore Lyric Opera and The Philharmonic Orchestra (Singapore). Aside from playing classical repertoire, I have also played in the pit orchestra for the Phantom of the Opera (Australian cast), and I have been on stage with Tan Dun, Dennis DeYoung, George Lam, Andrea Bocelli, Richard Clayderman, and popular Taiwanese band Mayday (Wu Yue Tian).
In addition to private teaching in violin and viola, I have been doing some sectional coaching for the Vancouver Youth Symphony. Previously, I had also carried out many music outreach sessions with elementary school students in the Madison, Wisconsin area for the Madison Symphony Orchestra, and also taught in a program for under-privileged children in Bloomington, Indiana.
I am fluent in English and Mandarin, and can communicate in French.
teaching
I have years of experience in teaching learners from a wide range of ages and levels. I believe in a thorough technical grounding and building good foundations as a basis for musical exploration and expression. Aside from providing instruction on an instrument, I want to also provide a sense of perspective on music, so that after my time with you, you should hear music differently for the rest of your life. I think that musical instruction needs to create a complete musician, one who not only knows how to play an instrument well but also sightreads well, understands the music that surrounds us, and can confidently participate in playing with others.
If this sounds interesting to you, do contact me to discuss how we can set up lessons. I live in southeast Vancouver but currently teach in the Point Grey area at Arbutus Music Academy, as well as in West Vancouver at the North Shore Music Academy. As circumstances permit, we can also discuss arrangements for home lessons in other areas.
weddings and events
Need live music for a wedding or other special event? I can help you put together a group suitable for your budget, and we have a wide range of music available, from classical to jazz standards to recent pop hits. Just call or text me, or send me a message, and we can discuss how best to meet your needs!
Ju Dee Ang
604-445-8675 (call or text)
get in touch
