Jill Chen was born in Taiwan and began piano studies at the age of six. After immigrating to New Zealand in 1990, she continued her music studies and took up the flute at age eleven. In 2004, she graduated from the University of Auckland with First Class Honours in a Masters of Music in Performance Flute under Professor Uwe Grodd (Ger/NZ). During the same year, she was Winner of the Open Competition at the New Zealand National Flute Convention and attended the Stratford-Upon-Avon International Flute Festival in the UK, where she performed for the Young Artist’s Concert Platform with well known British guest artists. She was also one of the top three finalists at the International Albert Cooper Competition held during the festival. Jill has performed in Masterclasses for Robert Aitken (Can/Ger), Marya Martin (NZ/USA), and Paul Edmund Davies (UK). While studying, Jill has performed with the Manukau Symphony Orchestra, Bach Musica, Auckland University Orchestra and Auckland Symphony Orchestra. Jill is also a pianist and holds the LTCL, ATCL and AMusTCL diplomas. She has had experience in teaching flute, piano and accompanying for over 10 years. Jill also holds a Graduate diploma in Teaching and during 2008-2011 she has been teaching Academic Music and coaching Chamber Music and Performance classes at Jerudong International School of Brunei. Jill will be joining the Faculty of Music at SOTA starting in January 2012.