Ms. Chou is Subject Expert Teacher for music. She holds a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance from the University of Toronto, a Master of Music in Piano Performance from the Manhattan School of Music, and a Master of Education in Music and Music Education from Teachers College, Columbia University. She has earned numerous awards for piano performance, including placing as a top finalist in the prestigious Canadian Music Competition. Her musical journey has taken her to stages in Vancouver, Toronto, and New York.​​​​‌‍​‍​‍‌‍‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‍​‍​‍​‍‍​‍​‍‌‍‌​‌‍​‌‌‌​‌‍‌‍​‌‍‌‌​​‍‍‌‍​‌‍‌‍‌​‍​‍​‍​​‍​‍‌‍‍​‌​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‍​‍​‍​‍‍​‍​‍‌‍‍​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‍‍​‍​‍‌‍​‍‌‍​‌‌​‌‍‍‌‌​​‍‍‌‍​‌‌‍‌​‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‍​‍‍‌‍‌​‌‍​‌‌‌​‌‍‌‍​‌‍‌‌​​‍‍‌‍​‌‍‌‍‌​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‌‍‍‌‌‌​‌‍‌​‍​‍‌‍‍‌‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‌​‌‍‌‌​​‌‍‌‌‌​​‍‌‍‌​​‌‌‌‍‍‍‌‍‍‌​‍‌‌​​​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‍‌‍‌‍‍‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‍‌​‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‌​​‍‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‍‌‌​‌‍‍​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌​​‌‍‍​‌‌‌​‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‍‌‍‌​‌​‌‌‍‌​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‌‍‍‌‌‌​​‍​‌‍‌‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍​‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌‍​‌‌‌​‌‍‍​​‌‌‍​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍​‍​‍‌‌

“My goal as a BASIS Independent educator is to nurture each student’s natural musicality and creativity,” she says. “In our classroom, students develop essential musical skills such as active listening, collaboration, and music reading.” She is excited for our middle school students, as they will have the opportunity to join the orchestra and experience the joy of ensemble performance.

Ms. Chou was drawn to BASIS Independent Schools for their academic excellence and strong support for the arts. She values the school’s commitment to educating the whole child—mind, heart, and creativity. Her teaching philosophy is rooted in active, hands-on learning. “I believe that music is for everyone, and that there’s a place for every voice in the classroom,” she explains. “By honoring each student’s individual strengths and perspectives, I want to create a vibrant, inclusive musical community where all students can thrive.”

A favorite lesson in Ms. Chou’s class invites students to compose original pieces using the notes and rhythms they’ve learned. Students notate and perform their compositions, deepening their understanding of music literacy while also gaining confidence and joy in creative expression.

Outside the classroom, Ms. Chou enjoys reading, kayaking, and hiking with her husband, young son Nate, and their dog Riley. She’s also on a mission to learn songs from different countries around the world—one small step at a time!