Conductor . Music Educator . Saxophonist . Pianist .

Master of Arts in Music (Instrumental Conducting) - San José State University

Bachelor of Music (Music Education) - San José State University

California Single Subject Teaching Credential in Music - National University

Natalie Chia was appointed the Director of the San José State University Symphonic Band during her second year as a master's student. Upon graduation, she was offered the position as part-time faculty with the San José State University School of Music and Dance to continue directing the band. Ms. Chia holds a M.A. in Instrumental Conducting and B.M. in Music Education from San José State University, where she studied with Edward C. Harris and Diana Hollinger. Her professional development include studying with Kevin Sedatole and Gary Green at the Michigan State University Conducting Symposium, Roby George and Keith Brion at the Indiana State University Summer Institute for Conductors, and Andy Collinsworth and Emily Threinen at the Sonoma State University Conducting Symposium.

While pursuing her degrees, Ms. Chia served as a graduate conducting associate for the San José State University Wind Ensemble, graduate assistant for the conducting classes, Saxophone Ensemble, Brass Ensemble and Percussion Ensemble, and guest conductor for the Diablo Valley College Symphonic Band, Philharmonic Orchestra, and Percussion Ensemble. She is a sought after band clinician and has served in the judging panel for the Santa Clara County Honor Band solo audition. Under her private instruction, students have achieved performance distinctions from the Association Boards of the Royal School of Music and acceptance into California All-State, Northern California Band Association, Santa Clara and Contra-Costa County Honor Bands.

Ms. Chia is currently the band director at Sam H. Lawson Middle School. Under her direction, the Lawson Advanced Band earned a Unanimous Superior rating during CMEA Festival. The group tours annually to perform to Anaheim to perform on the Disney stage, and participates in the instrumental soundtrack session through the Disney Imagination Campus program.

As a saxophonist Ms. Chia studied with Dale Wolford, Aaron Lington and Rory Snyder. She was the principal saxophone player in the San José State University Wind Ensemble and a member of the university’s Washington Square Saxophone Quartet playing soprano saxophone. In 2013, the Quartet won the San José State University Concerto Competition and performed the Concerto for Saxophone Quartet by Philip Glass with the San José State University Symphony Orchestra. Her other performances include David Maslanka’s Hell’s Gate with the San José State University Wind Ensemble, the Concerto by Glazunov with the Diablo Valley College Wind Ensemble. She was also a former member of the prestigious Philharmonic Winds (Singapore).