Our members

Photo by Takeshi Yagi

Kazuhiro Takagi, violin

Kazuhiro Takagi enjoys an international career and reputation as an experienced violin soloist, recording artist, and leader of orchestras. He has served tenures as concertmaster of the Tokyo Symphony, Chicago Civic Orchestra (under Daniel Barenboim), and solo concertmaster of the Yamagata Symphony and Wuerttembergische Philharmonie Reutlingen in Germany. He has also held positions with the Osaka Philharmonic, Osaka Symphony, Japan Century Symphony, Vietnam National Symphony and the Kansai Philharmonic.

Mr. Takagi has performed as a soloist and chamber musician in the United States, Europe and Japan. He is a prizewinner of the prestigious Queen Elisabeth International Music Competition and the 54th Geneva International Music Competition. As first violinist of the Eusia String Quartet, he received first prize in the Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition in Indiana. For his performances, he has also received the coveted Aoyama Music Award of Kyoto Baroque Saal.

Born in Osaka, Japan, and currently a resident of Tokyo, Mr. Takagi returns to Dallas frequently, as he established deep roots in the North Texas community while studying violin with Eduard Schmieder at Southern Methodist University. Extensively trained on his instrument, he is a graduate of the prestigious Deuxieme Academie de Musique Francaise de Kyoto where he was a pupil of Pierre Dukan, and the Conservatoire National Superieur in Lyon, France, where he was mentored by Yuko Mori and Eduard Wulfson.

In addition to his duties as concertmaster of the Dallas Chamber Symphony, Mr. Takagi holds positions with the Nagaokakyo Chamber Ensmeble in Kyoto, Izumi Sinfonietta Osaka, Lilis Chamber Orchestra, and the alternative music group A Hundred Birds.

Mr. Takagi’s solo recordings with the Osaka Philharmonic are widely distributed on the Naxos label. His most recent album features the twentieth-century works of composer Hiroshi Ohguri.

Dr. Kaye Yu-Ho Chang Chilton, Cello

Dr. Kaye Yu-Ho Chang-Chilton began her musical journey in her native Taiwan, starting piano at age five and later taking up the cello at eight. She earned her Bachelor of Music in Performance at Taiwan’s Fu Jen Catholic University and continued her studies at the University of North Texas, where she achieved her Master of Music, Graduate Artist Certificate, and Doctor of Musical Arts in Performance in 2022 under the guidance of Nikola Ruzevic. During her time at UNT, she served as an assistant in the chamber music department, performed with the UNT Baroque Orchestra in Boston in 2015, and held the position of Cello Principal for the Concert Orchestra, often featured as a soloist.

From 2011 to 2013, Dr. Chang-Chilton performed as a member of the Nova String Quartet, which earned her a prestigious scholarship, and from 2013 to 2017, she was awarded a teaching fellowship at UNT. She later served as cello principal of the New Texas Sinfonia from 2021 to 2023, where she played an integral role in the ensemble's formation and early seasons. Her notable solo performance of The Swan from Carnival of the Animals was praised by Scott Cantrell, music critic for the Dallas Morning News, who noted it “could not have been better!”

An accomplished soloist and chamber musician, Dr. Chang-Chilton has performed across California and Southeast Asia. Since 2014, she has been a member of the Dallas Chamber Symphony and performed with the Irving Symphony, Plano Symphony, and Las Colinas Symphony. Notably, she is one of two cellists featured in the chamber ensemble version of Aaron Copland's Appalachian Spring on the Dallas Chamber Symphony's published album, Chasing Home, a project showcasing themes of identity and belonging through music.

In 2018, she co-founded Forte Piano Strings studio with her family, where she mentors young musicians, many of whom achieve top rankings in TMEA All-Region auditions and TMEA All-State. She has inspired students to pursue a career in music, with some earning full scholarships from colleges of music for their exceptional skills.

Dr. Chang-Chilton remains active in the Texas community, performing for major events such as the grand opening of the Taiwan Trade Center in Dallas in 2023. Her performance with her husband, Daniel Chilton, was highly praised by U.S. Senators and Taiwanese Trade Ambassador Chih-Fang Huang. She also dedicates her talents to charity events like Hope’s Gate’s annual “Hope Under the Stars.”

As a founding member of Mementos Music Group, Dr. Chang-Chilton is committed to providing audiences with engaging and meaningful chamber music experiences while offering students opportunities to deepen their artistic journeys. Her work through Mementos Music Group reflects her dedication to connecting with audiences and nurturing future generations of musicians.

Daniel Chilton, Cello

Daniel Chilton, a native Texan, began his musical studies on piano at age six and soon after took up the cello at age nine. From an early age, he showed promise as a musician, leading him to participate in prestigious local competitions. Summers were dedicated to musical growth at renowned institutions like the Interlochen and Killington Music Festivals, immersing himself in intensive study and performing with distinguished musicians. These formative years laid a strong foundation for his professional studies at the University of North Texas, where he studied under the tutelage of Eugene Osadchy. Later, he pursued his Masters in Music with Christopher Adkins at Southern Methodist University, where he also served as a teaching assistant in the Chamber Music program, cultivating his skills as both a performer and educator.

Daniel has performed with a wide range of ensembles, including the Irving, San Angelo, and Fort Worth Symphonies. Since 2022, he has served as the personnel manager for the Dallas Chamber Symphony, where he is also integral to the coordination of the Dallas International Piano Competition and the Dallas International Violin Competition. His contributions to these competitions reflect a dedication to excellence and a passion for elevating the classical music landscape in Texas and beyond.

In addition to his performance career, Daniel is a sought-after cello instructor, managing the thriving private studio in Frisco, Forte Piano Strings (fpstrings.com), with his wife and family that attracts over 100 students annually, with a consistent attendance in his personal studio of more than 50 students at any given time. His students frequently excel, achieving top placements in All-Region and All-State auditions and securing competitive accolades that highlight the high standard of his teaching.

Beyond teaching, Daniel is an avid arranger and recording artist, bringing his creative vision to life through unique cello arrangements and performances. During his college years, he often collaborated with indie artists, lending his music to a variety of projects that brought him to performances at notable venues such as the House of Blues in Dallas.

An active member of the North Texas performance community, Daniel frequently collaborates with his wife, Dr. Kaye Yu-Ho Chang-Chilton, performing duos at high-profile events attended by dignitaries, including U.S. Senators and Ambassadors from Asia. Together, and with their family, they co-founded Mementos Music Group, a nonprofit dedicated to presenting chamber music in innovative ways to general audiences while providing young musicians with unique, career-enhancing performance opportunities.

Benjamin Chilton currently holds a Masters of Music Degree from the Colburn Conservatory of Music in Los Angeles, where he studied with internationally-acclaimed violist Paul Coletti. Previously, he graduated magna cum laude  from the University of Southern California with a Bachelors in Viola Performance, where he studied with professors Don McInnes and Che-Yen Brian Chen. In his youth, he studied violin with professor Julia Bushkova and viola with Dr. Susan Dubois.

Benjamin has performed in wide array of ensembles, from historic to modern. His most recent work includes a section position with the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra in the 2019-2020 season. His passion for early music was inspired by the Colburn Baroque Ensemble, led by Dr. Ian Pritchard, where he gave regular concerts throughout Los Angeles and worked with historical performance experts such as Elizabeth Blumenstock. Furthermore, he was a core member of the Kontrapunktus Baroque Orchestra and has performed with the Tesserae Baroque Ensemble with Christophe Rousset. In his studies, Benjamin has also served as Principal Violist of both the University of Southern California Symphony and Colburn Conservatory Orchestra, under the leadership of conductors such as Carl St. Clair and Esa-Pekka Salonen. Additionally, he has performed alongside the Dallas Symphony and New York Philharmonic on NPR’s From the Top and at the Music Academy of the West, respectively. Benjamin has also worked with composers such as Andrew Norman and Donald Crockett on new musical works, having been part of the USC Thornton Edge Ensemble and performed with the What’s Next Ensemble.

Benjamin was one of the founding members of the Kahlo Quartet, who were invited as Young Artists in Residence with the Da Camera Chamber Music Society of Los Angeles, the featured quartet at the Rencontres Franco Americaines Festival in Missillac, France, and the highlighted quartet on Dynamic Films’ score to An Act of Love. In addition, Benjamin has performed in various concert series, including collaborations with the Calidore Quartet and Ramon Ortega with the Colburn Chamber Music Society and pianist Jeremy Denk at the Music Academy of the West. He has performed in recital alongside luminaries such as Richard O’Neill, François Salque, and Peter Lloyd.

As an educator, Benjamin has taught in Lewisville, Frisco, Lovejoy, and McKinney Independent School Districts as a private instructor and sectional coach, in addition to giving masterclasses on All-Region and All-State preparation. Benjamin has also served as a teaching fellow at the Music Academy of the West and at Sunset Chamberfest’s Young Composer’s Workshop. He actively maintains a private studio, teaching both violin and viola.

Benjamin has also been named 2nd Place in the National American String Teachers Association competition in the Senior Viola division, been featured on the cover of The Strad Magazine, and appeared on NBC’s The Voice.

Benjamin Chilton, Viola

Dr. Jiyoung Park-Chilton, Violin

Dr. Jiyoung Park-Chilton was born in Seoul, Korea, started her musical studies on the piano when she was 4, and began playing the violin at the age of 7. She attended Sunhwa Arts School where she had her solo debut, performing Mozart’s third Violin Concerto at the Annual Concert with the school orchestra after winning the concerto competition. When she was 17, she was chosen to attend Walnut Hill School for the Arts during the school’s audition tour in Seoul and moved to the United States to study with Paul Biss and Miriam Fried. Jiyoung holds a Bachelor of Music degree from the New England Conservatory of Music under the tutelage of Miriam Fried, a Master of Music degree and a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the USC Thornton School of Music where she studied with Midori Goto. Her doctorate studies include minor fields in Music Theory and Analysis, Music Teaching and Learning, and Viola Performance.

An avid educator, Jiyoung has served as an Instructor of Violin and Chamber Music for music minors and non-majors at USC. While maintaining an active private studio, she has given masterclasses and lectures at USC and local high schools in Los Angeles and led sectionals for youth orchestras including Orange County Youth Symphony and North Hollywood High School Orchestra. Jiyoung has also worked with special-needs musicians as a violin instructor at This-Abillity Orchestra, advocating music as a powerful means of communication.

Jiyoung has performed extensively in various concert halls throughout the United States and Asia including Carnegie Hall, Walt Disney Concert Hall, Suntory Hall, Boston Symphony Hall, and Jordan Hall appearing as a recitalist, chamber musician, and orchestral musician. She has been featured on WQXR’s Young Artists Showcase, and in masterclasses led by Pamela Frank, Ida Kavafian, Pinchas Zukerman, and the Orion String Quartet. Her festival participation includes the Heifetz International Music Institute in New Hampshire, Music Academy of the West in California, Sarasota Music Festival in Florida, Pacific Music Festival in Japan, and Rencontres Franco-Américaines de Musique de Chambre in France. Aside from her professional engagements, Jiyoung has enjoyed outreach performances in Los Angeles and Sri Lanka as part of studio projects led by Professor Goto at various venues such as hospitals, schools, and nursing homes.

Chia-Yi Chen, a native of Taiwan, earned both bachelor’s and master’s degree of piano performance at the University of Southern California under Bernadene Blaha and Norman Krieger, who is a pupil of Alfred Brendel. During her study in the United States, she received a Merit scholarship for her undergraduate degree. She served as a full-time accompanist and a member of the chamber music program of the school for a long time.  She won the first prize of the MTAC in Los Angeles in 1999, and Second Prize for the Los Angeles Liszt Competition in Concerto Division in 2002.

Chia-Yi Chen studied and performed at music festivals with Full Scholarship in the Banff Music Festival in 2001. She also attended the Aspen Music Festival in 1997 and 2003, the Wintergreen Music Festival and the Salzburg Music Festival.  In 2018, Ms Chen got an invitation to gave a piano solo performance in Coimbra World Piano Meeting opening concert in Portugal. During her studying process, she studied with John Perry, Rita Sloan, Daniel Lessner, Jean-David Coen, Kevin Fitz-Gerald, Gail Niwa, Victoria Mushkatkol, Sergei Dorensky, Andrei Diev, and Makoto Ueno.

After returning to Taiwan in 2005, Ms. Chen enrolled in several schools to teach students majored in Music namely Eternal-Life Christ College, New Taipei Municipal Senior High School, Kuangen Catholic High School. In addition to holding regular solo recitals, she is often invited as an accompanist at concerts in the National Recital Hall. More than once, she has been hired as a judge for the enrollment of music major applicants and music competitions such as Asian Aegean international music competition. She is a guest pianist at the Fluteman Chamber Orchestra. In 2018, she received an invitation from the “Opus Music and Art” organization, and spent two years touring a series of parent-child concerts. In 2019, she was invited by the “Alster Freundeskreis”organization, and gave a lecture on the title “effective piano practice methods for children”.  She is currently a member of the Trinity Trio with two other members from Taipei Symphony Orchestra.  

While continuing to perform, Ms. Chen is also committed to teaching. Many of her students won the international piano competition, such as The Royal International competition, Global Philharmonic Music Online Competition, Piara Japan Piano Competition, IAMPT-Grand Prix, International Association Professional Music Teacher Competition etc. And some of them were invited to perform at the Carnegie Hall in New York City.


Chia-Yi Chen, Piano

Photo by Takeshi Yagi

Yuko Tanaka, Violin