Phoebe Chen is flutist currently studying at Carnegie Mellon University with Alberto Almarza, where she is pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Flute Performance with an Additional Major in Business Administration. She regularly performs with the Carnegie Mellon Philharmonic and Wind Ensemble, as well as in chamber ensembles. Since coming to CMU, she has played in masterclasses for Silvia Careddu, Michel Bellavance, Szabolcs Szilágy, Lorna McGhee, Amal Gochenour, and Sarah Shin.
Phoebe’s accolades include 1st prize in the Flute Society of Kentucky Young Artist Competition, as well as 2nd Prize in their Collegiate Soloist Competition. Recently, she received the Harry G. Archer Award in the CMU Philharmonic Soloist Competition and was a semi-finalist in the Raleigh Area Flute Association Artist Competition. Other awards include 1st prize in the Wisconsin Flute Festival Young Artist competition and 2nd prize in the San Diego Flute Guild Youth Artist Senior Competition, Charleston International Music Competition, and Central Ohio Flute Association Senior Division Competition. She has also been awarded an honorable mention in the Floot Fire Virtual Soloist competition.
This summer, Phoebe will be a fellow at the Texas Music Festival and an intern at the National Flute Association Convention. She will also be returning to the Eastern Music Festival, where she spent her previous summer. Previously, Phoebe played at The Consummate Flutist for flutists like Leone Buyse, Marianne Gedigian, Amal Gochenour, Alison Fierst, and Soo-Kyung Park and served as an assistant for the class in 2022 and 2023.
In high school, Phoebe was a student of Julie McGough. As a member of the Pittsburgh Youth Symphony Orchestra for four seasons, she composed a short piece, “Fledging,” which was featured in a virtual concert that took place during the COVID-19 pandemic. A three-time All-State flutist and the first chair of the 2022 PMEA All-State Concert Band, she was additionally selected as a member of the 2019 NFA High School Flute Choir and 2020 NAfME All-National Concert Band. Other performance experience includes a solo performance of Borne’s Fantaisie brillante sur 'Carmen' with the Upper St. Clair High School Wind Ensemble and a performance at the American Legion Ceremony as a recipient of the Youth Achievement Award in Music.
