Julia Chien currently holds the Principal Timpani position with the Kamloops Symphony Orchestra. Prior to obtaining this position, she held the principal percussion position with the Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra. Some of the ensembles Julia also performs with include the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, National Arts Centre Orchestra, Turning Point Ensemble, and Continuum Contemporary Ensemble.
An advocate of new music, Julia has participated in the premieres of works including the Four Lands project with Toronto’s Continuum Contemporary Ensemble, as well as the Vancouver premiere of Steve Reich’s Music for 18 Musicians as part of the Modulus Festival with Music on Main’s All Star Band. In 2019, Julia was selected as an Emerge Artist for Music on Main’s Emerge on Main: Spotlight on Rising Musicians. She is also a member of Infamy Too! Percussion Duo with Aaron Graham.
Julia earned her Bachelors of Music degree in Percussion Performance at The University of British Columbia (UBC). After spending some time in Toronto studying with Nexus Percussion member, Russell Hartenberger and principal percussionist of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, John Rudolph, she continued her master’s degree in Percussion Performance at UBC under the tutelage of Aaron McDonald and Vern Griffiths.
