The Juneau Symphony is proud to announce that Guo Hua Xia of the Juneau String Ensembles has been hired to lead the Juneau Student Symphony (JSS). He is a classically trained violinist with decades of string teaching experience. Throughout the years, he has brought the gift of music to hundreds of students of all ages.
A violinist with the Juneau Symphony, he received his Bachelor of Arts in music performance from the Shanghai Conservatory, and a Masters of Music from the University of Alaska Fairbanks.
Xia is a key figure in Juneau’s musical community. He has taught many of Juneau’s best string students and has been teaching with the Juneau Alaska Music Matters (JAMM) program since its inception. He is the musical director for multiple Juneau string ensembles and frequently collaborates with other community music organizations, including Juneau Jazz and Classics and the Juneau School District.
In 2014, Xia received the Mayors Award for Visionary Application of the Arts. The Juneau Empire described him this way: “Guo Hua Xia has been teaching young violinists in Juneau for 17 years, …. inspiring our youngest students to take pride in their abilities, to strive to achieve. He continues his private instruction, building a cadre of talented young string players who now perform with the Juneau Symphony, who are continuing their studies in music, and who represent Juneau proudly. Over the years, he has taken two groups of students on tour of China, and is preparing to take a third group this coming summer, using music to provide bridges between countries. A talented violinist himself, he truly can hear the future in our children.”
Following a successful 2015-2016 season, former JSS music director Tyree Pini has relocated to Arizona, where he is attending school and composing music.
