About
A native of Hong Kong based in Boston, Dr. Tommy Chiu has made appearances in major cities across Asia and North America both as a performer and an educator. He has appeared as a soloist with the University of British Columbia Chamber Orchestra, the Boston University Wind Ensemble and the Boston University Trombone Choir, and was named finalist in various concerto competitions, including that of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestral Institute and the PRISMA Festival & Academy. In recent summers, he also served as an artist fellow in the Atlantic Music Festival and attended the International Graduate Music Conference hosted by the University of Calgary as a lecture presenter. Locally, he regularly organizes and gives community performances in the Greater Boston area, with past performances being recorded and live streamed by local televisions such as Access Framingham and Dedham TV.
Outside of performing, Tommy teaches brass instruments extensively both in person and virtually with more than a decade of international teaching experience. His students over the country continue to find success in region/all-state auditions, as well as getting accepted into prestigious youth orchestra programs such as the Boston Youth Symphony Orchestras, and college music performance programs such as Boston Conservatory at Berklee and Boston University. Locally, he serves on the faculties of the Dedham School of Music, the Performing Arts Center of MetroWest, the Note-worthy Experiences Music Studio, the After School Music Program at the Brimmer and May School, and Making Music Matters in the Boston Public Schools. Given his international background, Tommy is comfortable in guiding students with diverse ethnicities and musical upbringings, and is capable of teaching fluently in three languages—English, Mandarin and Cantonese.
Tommy holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from Boston University, where he also was a recipient of the Brass Department Award. His primary teachers include Jarod Vermette of the Hong Kong Philharmonic, Colin Williams of the New York Philharmonic, and Toby Oft, Principal Trombonist of the Boston Symphony Orchestra.
Highlights
Photos and videos
Reviews
Carson
Kimberly H.
Ryan
Greg K.
Hong
Geoffrey
Frequently asked questions
What is your typical process for working with a new student?
My typical process for working with a new student is to begin with the end in mind. According to the particular needs and expectations of the student, we discuss attainable and measurable goals for a given period of time. With that in mind, I devise tailor-made lesson plans that may include materials from esteemed method books (Arban, Bordogni, Cimera, Edwards, Mantia, Marstellar, Schlossberg, etc.) and exercises of my own design. Whether there is an exam or an audition, understanding what we are working towards ensures a great start of our shared musical journey.
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
Doctor of Musical Arts in Brass Performance, Boston University, under the tutelage of Toby Oft, Principal Trombone of Boston Symphony Orchestra.
Do you have a standard pricing system for your lessons? If so, please share the details here.
Price varies according to the needs of the students. Included in the price is my availability outside of lessons. I make sure any questions and concerns my students may have during the week are taken care of in a timely manner. Recording submissions are also welcome in exchange for concise comments via texts.
What advice would you give a student looking to hire a teacher in your area of expertise?
Find a teacher who leads by example.