In spring 2004, KuanFen was part of the launch of Channel Islands Choral Association (CICA) and Channel Islands Chamber Orchestra (CHICO).  CICA is affiliated with California State University Channel Islands, and has singers from across the community (Ventura, Camarillo, Oxnard, Port Hueneme, Thousand Oaks, Westlake, and Moorpark) and faculty, staff members, and students from CSU Channel Islands.  Channel Islands Chamber Orchestra features professional musicians residing and performing in Ventura County.  Under KuanFen’s leadership, CHICO provides four concerts and an annual Messiah Sing-along for our local audiences.   

 

 KuanFen Liu is also the Chancel Music Director at First United Methodist Church in Ventura, a post she has held since Fall 1999.  She prepares and directs the FUMC Chancel Choir for its regular Sunday worship and annual concert and performance.  She also oversees the music planning for it’s traditional worship.  KuanFen has been on faculty at the Performing Arts program at CSU Channel Islands since spring 2004 where she teaches music theory, music appreciation, and other performing arts related courses.

 

 Originally from Taiwan, KuanFen began her piano and music theory studies at the age of five and pursued piano, violin and singing throughout her childhood.  KuanFen holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Vocal Performance from Tunghai University in Taiwan, a Master of Music degree in Conducting from Eastman School, and a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Choral Conducting from Thornton School of Music, University of Southern California.  While she was a student, she received numerous scholarships and honors.  She was awarded USC Scholarship of Merit and Teaching Assistantship (1999-2003) and she was honored with the Choral and Sacred Music Department Honor Award at the Academic Honors Convocation in 2003.

 

KuanFen has participated in some of the finest music ensembles and workshops throughout the country and toured with them internationally.  She was chosen to sing at the 1998 Robert Shaw Carnegie Hall Workshop Chorus.  While she was at USC, she toured with the USC Chamber Choir and competed in the European Grand Prix Choral Competition (Tolosa, Spain and Loire Valley, France) and European Regional Choral Competition (Loire Valley, France).  The ensemble was awarded with the Grand Prix award in 2001.  In the summer of 2006, KuanFen was one of the twelve conductors chosen to work with the world-renowned German conductor, Maestro Helmuth Rilling in the prestigious Oregon Bach Festival in Eugene, Oregon, where she rehearsed and conducted the Festival Chorus and orchestra.

 

KuanFen studied choral conducting with William Dehning and William Weinert and orchestral conducting with Mark Gibson and David Effron.  She also participated in masterclasses and workshops with Robert Shaw, Charles Dutoit, Helmuth Rilling, Joseph Flummerfelt, James Jordan and Dale Warland.  KuanFen currently lives in Camarillo, California with her husband, the Rev. Jimmy Huang and their daughter, Terilyn Huang.