The Philadelphia Orchestra has appointed violinist MuChen Hsieh ’15 to its string section. Hsieh will begin with the Orchestra in September.
Hsieh, from Taiwan, has served as the principal second violin of the Houston Symphony since 2017 and has appeared with them several times as a soloist. An avid chamber musician, she has collaborated with James Dunham, Eric Halen, Jon Kimura Parker, Cho-Liang Lin, Gil Shaham, and Kathleen Winkler. Her festival performances include the Grand Teton Music Festival, the New York String Orchestra, the Sarasota Music Festival, and the Music Academy of the West. Hsieh has also served as the Shepherd School Symphony Orchestra concertmaster on numerous occasions, including on the ensemble’s tour to Carnegie Hall.
While earning her Bachelor of Music in Violin Performance at New England Conservatory, she studied with Malcolm Lowe and Masuko Ushioda.
Hsieh was among four new musicians appointed to The Philadelphia Orchestra for its 2024-2025 season. Music and Artistic Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin said of the appointments: “We are thrilled to welcome these four exceptional musicians to The Philadelphia Orchestra family. Each brings a unique perspective and rich experience to their craft, and I look forward to collaborating with them and witnessing their contributions to the Orchestra and our community for many years to come.”