Dr. Yiqun Chen is a versatile saxophonist and pedagogue originally from Southern California. Dr. Chen performed throughout the United States and internationally with appearances in Japan, China, Belgium, and Croatia. Recently, Dr. Chen performed at the XIX World Saxophone Congress in Las Palmas, Gran Carnaria. As a soloist, he has been featured with the Hong Kong Youth Saxophone Ensemble, the La Prima Vera Youth Symphony Orchestra, the University of Iowa Concert Band, the South Dakota State University Wind Ensemble, and the South Dakota State University Concert Band. Dr. Chen is also an active recitalist and has performed and taught masterclasses at the University of North Dakota, North Dakota State University, California State University, Fullerton, California State University Long Beach, Hastings College, and Truman State University. Dr. Chen regularly performs at the United States Navy Band Saxophone Symposium along with the North American Saxophone Alliance Regional and Biennial conferences.
Dr. Chen is currently a senior lecturer at the South Dakota State University School of Performing Arts. His teaching assignments include applied saxophone, chamber coaching, music appreciation, jazz pedagogy, woodwind pedagogy, and directing jazz ensembles.
Dr. Chen received a BM in Saxophone Performance from California State University Long Beach, an MAT from the University of Southern California, and a DMA from the University of Iowa. His teachers include Kenneth Tse, Damani Phillips, Jay Mason, James Barrera, and Leo Potts.