Q&A with RBC Assistant Conductor Monica Chen

We want to take this opportunity to welcome a brand new member to the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra—RBC Assistant Conductor Monica Chen. Originally from Vancouver, Monica has been one of the conducting fellows at the Orchestre Métropolitain, assisting Yannick Nézet-Séguin since the 2021/22 season.

She holds two Masters, one in Orchestral Conducting from UBC, studying with Dr. Jonathan Girard and the other in violin performance from Indiana University, studying with Mimi Zweig.

This weekend marks her WSO debut. She appears in Saturday’s Community Celebration concert, where she will be leading the Sistema Beethoven orchestra. Then, on Sunday, Monica will conduct the WSO in this season’s first KIDS CONCERT — There’s Something Fishy with Al Simmons, on Sunday, October 8 at 3 pm.

We sat down with Monica for some rapid-fire questions.

Q: What is the first thing you do in the morning?

What I would like to say is that I exercise first thing, though that is more of the goal! If not exercise, then it would be the basic hygiene things before absorbing the natural sunlight that seems to be the key to waking me up. A healthy breakfast before diving into work is also a goal.

Q: What was your first job?

I started working as a gigging musician when I was in grade 3, playing for weddings at the request of clients who saw us performing in concerts. Of course, it wasn’t full-time; however, I gradually built up from playing one wedding a year to a couple dozen by the time I finished high school.

Q: What was the last book you read?

It has sadly been a long while since I have read a book for leisure; however, I frequently browse online PDFs for research purposes. The last physical book I read was a book my teacher lent me called “Conducting Business: Unveiling the Mystery behind the Maestro” by Leonard Slatkin.

Q: Where would you go on vacation right now?

I would love to go to the coastlines of Vancouver Island, perhaps Tofino or the Gulf Islands, to enjoy the peace and the beauty of nature away from the bustling activities of the city.

Q: Who inspires you?

My first teacher, Dr. Jonathan Girard, is a huge inspiration in everything that I do. We spent countless hours together in my first year of my Master’s, which was also the first semester after COVID. He taught me from the ground up and invited me to his Master’s program. I will forever be indebted to his time and gracious mentorship, which changed my life path forever.

Q: What is your ideal breakfast?

My go-to every morning is a bowl of oatmeal with yogurt, granola, fresh fruits and berries, and a sprinkling of a variety of seeds paired with Taiwanese black milk tea!

Q: What is the best advice you ever got?

I have received countless counsel over the years from many people much wiser and more experienced than I am. The potency of the comments changes with where and when I am on my life journey. I would say the one most pertinent to me right now would be, “Don’t let Perfect be the enemy of Good.”

Q: What song or work instantly puts you in a good mood?

This changes from month to month, though I do have a soft spot for Mozart and Mendelssohn. I would say the work right now would be Mendelssohn‘s Overture to Midsummer Night’s Dream.

Q: If you could time travel, where would you go?

Even if I had the ability, I would love to stay exactly now. I value the present and the ever-fleeting but precious moments that go by. The time that continually passes is what makes the “now” so special.

Q: What are you most looking forward to during your time here in Winnipeg and with the WSO?

I’m most looking forward to getting to know the whole team here at WSO and being a part of their mission of creating relevant and impactful music for the Winnipeg community. It’s an honour to join this well-established organization, and I’m excited to learn and be a part of this incredibly skilled and seasoned crew!