A native of Taiwan, cellist Olive Chen has been active in Houston music scene for many years. Mrs. Chen has performed as soloist or principal cellist in the Symphony of Southeast Texas, Woodlands Symphony, Opera on The Heights and other orchestras. Before coming to the United States, Mrs. Chen was a member of the Taipei City Symphony Orchestra. Olive Chen has performed professionally in Taiwan, Japan, Singapore, Korea, The Philippines, Hong Kong and in many major cities in the United States.

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Born into a musical family, she started her music training at the age of three. During her early training and development as a cellist, she competed in and won a number of national youth competitions in Taiwan. Subsequently, she was admitted to Soo-Chow University in Taipei, Taiwan as one of a number of specially selected young musicians with extraordinary talent. She received her master’s degree from Rice University, Shepherd Music School in 1993 studying under the tutelage of principal cello teachers Shirley Trepel, former principal cellist of Houston Symphony and David Finckel, cellist of the Emerson String Quartet, highlighted at the Aspen Music Festival.

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Olive Chen is recognized as an outstanding cello teacher in the greater Houston area where she operates her own music studio. She has also taught cello at Houston Community College, Houston Youth Symphony, Fort Bend Independent School District and Conroe Independent School District. A number of her students have excelled and performed admirably in various contests and performances in Texas.

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Mrs. Chen currently resides in Missouri City, Texas with her husband Mark, a professional photographer and their daughter, Marcia, also a talented cellist.