Joyce Tseng is a distinguished violist currently serving as a Board Member for the American Viola Society and as Chair of the 2026 AVS Junior Solo Competition. A Doctor of Musical Arts candidate at the Eastman School of Music under Phillip Ying, she holds both Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees from the same institution, where she studied with George Taylor. Additionally, she earned a Master of Science in Education from the University of Rochester and a certificate from the Eastman Arts Leadership Program. Her research and development are supported by multiple grants, including the Eastman IML Mentorship Grant for creating a first-of-its-kind pedagogical resource for advanced violists and early-career string teachers.

ABOUT JOYCE

When not at the viola, Joyce can be found exploring new restaurants and coffee shops or taking long walks with a podcast. She unwinds at the gym and enjoys getting lost in books on diverse topics, ranging from the neurobiology of learning to the art of typography.

PERFORMANCE & AWARDS

A highly decorated violist, Joyce has performed the Hoffmeister Viola Concerto as a featured soloist with the Macao Orchestra and appeared in solo recital at the iconic St. Martin-in-the-Fields in London. Her festival credits include the Aspen Music Festival, the Heifetz International Music Institute (Ashkenasi–Kirshbaum Chamber Music Seminar), American Viola Society Festivals, the International Viola Congress, and the Karen Tuttle Viola Coordination Workshop.

She has also performed with the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, Eastman Collegium, the Eastman Bach Cantata Series, and the "If Music Be Food" concert series, collaborating with members of the Ying Quartet and Eastman faculty.

She was a two-time recipient of the Robert L. Oppelt Viola Prize, an award presented annually at commencement to an outstanding viola student at the Eastman School of Music. She also earned 3rd Prize in the AVS Orchestral Audition Competition (2024), 2nd Prize in the AVS Collegiate Solo Competition (2018), and 1st Prizes in both the String Concerto and Viola categories of the Macao Young Musicians Competition.

TEACHING

With over a decade of experience teaching students ages 4 and up, as well as adults, Joyce has held diverse instructional roles at the collegiate level.

At Eastman, she served as a Teaching Assistant for Professor George Taylor for 5 years, mentoring viola performance majors in private studio lessons. She also instructed Secondary Viola for violin majors and music students across the university, and String Methods Classes (MTL 218 & 231 & 232) for Music Education majors, providing them with the foundational techniques necessary for their future classrooms. Joyce has also served as a Chamber Music Coach at the University of Rochester for the past 5 years.

Her portfolio also includes mentoring adult beginners in the New Horizons Green Strings ensemble and serving as a practice coach for the Heifetz Institute’s Program for the Exceptionally Gifted. She has also presented masterclasses at SUNY Brockport for university students and community members.

Her pedagogical approach is informed by masterclasses and lessons with luminaries such as Kim Kashkashian, Atar Arad, Roberto Díaz, Robert Vernon, Martha Katz, and Hsin-Yun Huang. Furthermore, her advanced training in digital pedagogy from the Warner School of Education ensures a sophisticated, student-centered approach to online learning and instruction.