Faculty Profiles

Faculty Profile Variant

Lilian Chou, M.M., B.M.

Suzuki/Prep Violin/Viola, Piano, ENCORE Director, Chamber Ensemble Coordinator


630.752.5567



CSA Instructor since 2012

Lilian draws from diverse musical experiences and philosophies to craft her pedagogical style. She loves teaching violin, viola, and piano students of all ages and nurturing their unique learning abilities in private lessons and group classes.  Lilian also coaches chamber music and oversees the Encore Advanced Chamber Ensembles at CSA.  Certified in Suzuki Violin and Suzuki Piano, Lilian studied pedagogy with Ann Montzka Smelser and Marilyn Andersen.  Other pedagogical influences include Mimi Zweig and Paul Rolland.  She was a member of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago from 2016-2018 and frequently performs throughout the Chicagoland area. 

A graduate of Northwestern's Bienen School of Music, Lilian has studied with Blair Milton and Almita Vamos.  She completed her BM at Wheaton College studying violin with Lee Joiner, piano with Karin Edwards, and biochemistry; she was a concertmaster of the Symphony Orchestra and winner of both the 2012 Chamber Competition and the 2014 Concerto Competition. Although most often a violinist, Lilian is also passionate about collaboration as a keyboardist on piano, organ, harpsichord, and also viola.  She has a keen interest in early music and plays with several chamber groups. She enjoys helping her students develop as holistic, creative, and community-minded musicians, and many are leaders in their youth orchestras and competition prizewinners. 

Lilian is also the director of the Tutti Chamber Music Summer Program and runs a family business constructing music-related accessories.  In her free time, Lilian enjoys hiking, logic puzzles, and traveling. She holds a black belt in Taekwondo and enjoys practicing Aikido and Kung Fu. 

Northwestern University
M.M.

Wheaton College Conservatory of Music
B.M.

  • Suzuki Association of Americas