Ms. Ellie Lin
刘哲苑
Ellie Lin received both her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Choral Conducting and Music Education from the Eastman School of Music. With the world-renowned Texas Boys Choir, she has served as its Artistic Director, Conductor and Piano Accompanist for many years. Other positions held include Conductor of the Pinnacle Choristers, Conductor of Southwest Christian School High School Choir, Music Director of the Good Earth Singers, Choir Director at Arlington Chinese Church, and Piano Instructor at the University of Charleston in West Virginia.
As a conductor, Ms. Lin led the Great Land Choral Society to successful, internationally televised concert performances in China (2014, 2008), Vienna (2012), and Taiwan (2010). Prior to that, she twice led another choir, Good Earth Singers, on concert tours to China and Taiwan in 2004 and 2006. In August 2018, Ms. Lin led the Great Land Choral Society to another successful concert at the “China Time 2018” music festival in Hamburg, Germany. In July 2017, she led the Texas Boys Choir to China for a very successful 28-days tour with 15 concerts. In October 2017, Ms. Lin was informed by Grammy that she was on the preliminary ballot for the 60th Grammy Award for Producer of the Year, along with the Texas Boys Choir’s 70th Year CD for the Album of the Year and Best Choral Performance awards. In addition to conducting, Ms. Lin is a popular piano teacher and accompanist. She is a member of the American Choral Directors Association, and is certified as a professional Chinese interpreter and translator.
神州合唱团的音乐总监刘哲苑女士, 为世界知名之德州男童合唱团(Texas Boys Choir)多年的艺術总监、指挥及钢琴伴奏。刘女士生于台北市,在光仁小学音乐班毕业以后,就随父母移居美国。其后在著名的纽约伊士曼音乐学院随名师Donald Neuen教授,专攻合唱指挥及音乐教育,并兼修钢琴,取得学士及双硕士学位。
毕业后多次带领中华圣乐团契在北美洲巡迴演出,也曾任西弗吉尼亚州的Charleston大学钢琴教师。在1991年到1997年期间首度担任德州男童合唱团的指挥及钢琴伴奏。2000年到2006年,任 Fort Worth Pinnacle School 艺术学院首席指挥。其后在2008年到2010年,任教于Fort Worth Southwest Christian School, 为其高中合唱团指挥。从1991年到2017年,多次兼任雅灵顿华人教会诗班指挥。自2010年起,她带领德州男童合唱团走遍美国各地,并远赴南美及欧州多国及中国演出。
刘女士就任神州合唱团及大地合唱团音乐总监以来,多次指挥两团举行大型演唱会,并带领兩团到中国大陆和台湾省演出:2004年大地合唱团在福州和厦门演出;2006年大地合唱团在北京、天津和台北演出; 2008年在全国政协港澳台侨委员会的邀請下,神州合唱团在上海及北京和中国歌剧舞剧院管弦乐团一起盛大演出「中国心,中华情」中美华人合唱音乐会;2010年神州合唱团在台北演出;2012年,神州合唱团在音乐之都维也纳金色大厅(Musikverein, Vienna)参加了中国合唱协会协办的『唱响五洲, 元宵夜合唱音乐会』;2013年神州合唱团赴福州参加“以歌会友--华人之声”合唱音乐会;2014年神州合唱团在丹佛参加了中国侨联「亲情中华」的演出;2015年神州合唱团和来自休士顿和奥斯汀的合唱团为纪念抗战胜利七十周年演出了百人「黄河大合唱」。今年8月她带领神州合唱团去德国及捷克旅行演出 ,參加了汉堡“中国时代”活动及演出了一场音乐会。2017年10月她和德州男童合唱团进入今年的格莱美初选提名。她被初选提名為年度最佳制作人,而男童合唱团的70th Anniversary CD 则被初选提名为年度最佳CD及合唱表演。
除了指挥以外,刘女士对钢琴也有很深的造诣。她常为独唱、合唱、器乐独奏在音乐会上和比赛中担任伴奏。 翻译是刘女士的另一个爱好与专长。2006年,在拿到专业翻译执照後,她就开始热爱藉着翻译去帮助社会上各种有需要的人。无论是音乐或翻译,她都盼望能用上帝所给的恩赐来影响他人的生命。