Shuchen Jiang, Centre Director (St. Stephen)

Shuchen Jiang is a dedicated violinist and educator with a Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) degree in violin performance from the College Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati, where he also holds a cognate in violin pedagogy.

In August 2023, Shuchen joined Sistema in Saint John, New Brunswick, as a violin teaching artist. After one year, he became the Center Director at the St. Stephen Center in August 2024.

Shuchen has a rich orchestral performance background, having served as concertmaster, principal, and section player with more than 15 professional orchestras across the United States and Canada, including Symphony Nova Scotia and the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra.etc.

As a solo violinist, he specializes in advanced bow techniques, particularly down-bow and up-bow staccato—skills that few possess. He has released a CD album featuring 40 common violin excerpts, complete with detailed written explanations of the specific elements that audition committees look for in performances, aimed at assisting musicians in their orchestral auditions. Additionally, Shuchen actively engages with the local music community through solo concerts in Saint John with Symphony by the Sea, where they plans to perform Vivaldi's "Four Seasons" in alignment with the changing seasons throughout the year.

His students have won awards in competitions such as the Brahms International Music Competition, the China Youth Provincial Music Competition, the Golden Beijing Competition, the Singapore International Music Competition, and the New Brunswick Music Festival, among others. His excellence in instruction has earned him recognition as an “Outstanding Instructor” at various events.

Outside of music, Shuchen has a keen interest in Chinese magic, having spent three years researching the nearly extinct intangible cultural heritage of ancient Chinese magic tricks.