Zhi Jie Chen
6315 Ocean Avenue North, Arverne,NY
Summary
Professional composer and multi-instrumentalist with deep expertise in creating original musical scores and orchestrations. Adept at collaborating with diverse teams to deliver impactful compositions tailored to project needs. Skilled in music theory, music production, and accompanying, ensuring adaptability and reliability in dynamic environments. Known for consistently achieving high-quality results in fast-paced setting.
Overview
6
6
years of professional experience
Work History
Film and Media Composer
Freelance
01.2023 - Current
- Developed original scores for various media productions, enhancing emotional impact on audiences through compelling music composition.
- JF Animations‑ Commissioned to score a student senior thesis animation film "Jayuya" inspired by the Puerto Rican Sun God‑ May 2023.
- Buoyancy Productions‑Scored an Indie film "The Builder" that showcases how films can be made on only iPhones, presented to Apple ‑ October 2024
- NYU‑ Premiered 3 social impact Documentaries in NYU Journalism Film Festival: La Esperanza, EACH, Silent Echoes ‑ February 2025
Choral Musician
St. Marks UMC Choral Scholars- Sterling Overshown
11.2022 - 05.2024
- Performed 2 services per month on average, including special events such as the Brooklyn Contemporary Chorus's Messiah and Carol Concert on December 4th, 2022.
- Learned a wide array of liturgical hymns and choral music.
- Expanded church musical repertoire through exploration of diverse genres, styles, and techniques.
- Sang tenor and bass in the choir, and switched between parts as needed.
Touring Jazz Musician
World Rhythm Academy
09.2021 - Current
- Toured with successful bands, providing professional, punctual backing support.
- Assisted in coordinating logistics during concert tours including travel plans, lodging accommodations, and equipment transportation.
- Assisted in transcribing original jazz arrangements of Ronnie Burrage's pieces, notating, and creating parts for musicians.
- Ensure rehearsals run smoothly, running lighting, live sound mixing, video playback, and printing out missing parts for musicians.
- Performed keyboard alongside Ronnie Burrage the Holographic Principle Orchestra in St. Louis-Music at the Intersection Festival
- Collaborated with fellow musicians for seamless performances and increased audience engagement.
Audio Engineer
Jeffrey Biegel
06.2021 - 05.2024
- Used Logic Pro X to create an orchestral mockup of Professor Biegel's "Three Reflections" Piano Concerto with orchestration by Harrison Sheckler utilizing realistic midi sample libraries.
- Recorded, edited, and mixed orchestral tracks while removing distracting noise.
- The piano concerto's second movement audio demo, "Reflection of Justice: An Ode to Ruth Bader Ginsburg", was used in a mini‑documentary of the late Ruth Bader Ginsburg by DSO.
- The audio demo served as an advertisement for the piece to be premiered all over the United States, leading to multiple performances of Professor Biegel with various orchestras and conductors (Ex: Dallas Symphony Orchestra) premiering the concerto.
- Interview on TV with Spectrum News NY1 on Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
Piano Accompanist
Freelance
09.2018 - Current
- Collaborated with soloists to deliver exceptional recitals, showcasing their talents and technical abilities.
- Accompanist for Brooklyn College's musical theater auditions and vocal juries.
- Pianist for Youth Orchestra of St. Luke's Winter and Summer concerts
- Pianist in the Pit Orchestra for Brooklyn College's Production of Sunday in the Park with George (2024)
Education
Master of Music - Music Theory And Composition: Screen Scoring
New York University Steinhardt
New York, NY05-2026
Bachelor's of Music - Piano Performance and Music Composition
Macaulay Honors College (CUNY Brooklyn)
New York, NY05.2024
Highschool Diploma -
Fiorello H. LaGuardia Highschool of Music & Art and Performing Arts
New York, NY06.2019
Skills
- Piano
- Voice
- Vibraphone
- Guitar
- Harmonica
- Sight-reading
- Vocal accompaniment
- Piano accompaniment
- Improvisation
- Producing, Mixing, and Mastering
- Composing and Arranging
- Notation software proficiency
- Sound design experience
- Live performance experience
Accomplishments
- Recipient of 2nd prize in the Piano Solo division in the online International Music Festival-Competition in Spain with 'Stars of Tenerife 2020'
- Honorable Mention in International Protege Competition in Carnegie Hall
- Dean's List in CUNY Brooklyn College 2022-2024
- Premiered 3 Short Documentaries at the 2025 NYU Journalism Festival
Masterclasses
- Piano masterclass with Professor Ursula Oppens, 04/01/22
- Jazz Masterclass with Holographic Principle and Ronnie Burrage, 04/01/22
- Make Way For The New Generation: Piano masterclass with Professor Ketevan Badridze, 01/01/23
- Piano masterclass with Yuki Negishi, Roberto Russo, Mark Nixon, Liezl-Maret Jacobs, and Pavle Krstic, 07/01/23
Private Studios
- Piano Studio, Jeffrey Biegel,
CUNY Brooklyn College, December 2019‑present
- Music Composition, Douglas Cohen,
CUNY Brooklyn College, September 2020-May 2024
- Music Composition, Polina Nazaykinskaya,
CUNY Brooklyn College, September 2023-May 2024
- Screen Scoring, Shruti Kumar
NYU Steinhardt, September 2024-present
- Screen Scoring, D.D. Jackson
NYU Steinhardt, January 2025-present
Personal Information
- Place of Birth: NY
- Date of Birth: 04/28/01
- Gender: Male
- Nationality: Chinese American
- Driving License: D
Hobbies and Interests
- Surfing
- Gymnastics
- Collaborating with friends
- Reading literature
Timeline
Film and Media Composer
Freelance
01.2023 - Current
Choral Musician
St. Marks UMC Choral Scholars- Sterling Overshown
11.2022 - 05.2024
Touring Jazz Musician
World Rhythm Academy
09.2021 - Current
Audio Engineer
Jeffrey Biegel
06.2021 - 05.2024
Piano Accompanist
Freelance
09.2018 - Current
Highschool Diploma -
Fiorello H. LaGuardia Highschool of Music & Art and Performing Arts
Master of Music - Music Theory And Composition: Screen Scoring
New York University Steinhardt
Bachelor's of Music - Piano Performance and Music Composition
Macaulay Honors College (CUNY Brooklyn)
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