Dr. Maureen Yuen

Canadian-born Maureen Yuen (Ed.D., Columbia University, USA; M.Mus., University of British Columbia, Canada), violinist, has performed, taught, and adjudicated globally. She joined Drake University as Assistant Professor of Violin and Viola in 2019. Prior to her appointment at Drake University, Dr. Yuen taught at the State University of New York (SUNY) Fredonia (NY, USA), Mercyhurst University (PA, USA), and Columbia University (NY, USA).  

She is a member of the College of Examiners of the Royal Conservatory of Music as well as a senior adjudicator and strings specialist for the Royal Conservatory Music Development Program (formerly the Carnegie Hall Achievement Program). Her active schedule also includes solo and chamber music performances, recordings, adjudication, and master classes worldwide, including the Hong Kong Schools Music Festival, the University of Nairobi (Kenya), and across Japan as a mentor with the New York Symphonic Ensemble.  Her interest in new music has led to collaborations with composers Chen Yi, Augusta Read Thomas, and Adrienne Elisha. In 2011, Dr. Yuen co-founded the annual composition competition at SUNY Fredonia with Rob Deemer. 

In addition to her performing and teaching duties, Dr. Yuen's scholarly research focuses on improving pre-college violin training in the United States and diversifying/decolonizing the applied music studio. Her research has been presented at conferences and published in peer reviewed journals regionally, nationally, and internationally. She serves as a member of the editorial committee of the American String Teacher Journal and as string editor with Rising Tide Music Press which supports emerging composers of color. 

Her students have gone on to receive graduate scholarships and assistantships at the Juilliard School, Indiana University, University of Massachusetts, Bowling Green State University, the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and more. Dr. Yuen is the recipient of the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching, selected from nominees from the 64 campuses of the State University of New York.