Matthew Chan is a passionate violinist, conductor, and teacher. He earned dual bachelor’s degrees in Biology and Music Education from the University of Texas at Austin, where he studied violin with Sandy Yamamoto. During his time there, he served as both a teacher and Assistant Director of the University of Texas String Project under the guidance of renowned string pedagogue Dr. Laurie Scott. He went on to earn his master’s degree in Violin Performance from the University of Wisconsin–Madison, studying with Dr. Soh-Hyun Altino. While in Madison, he served as the instructor for String Fundamentals classes and as the head conductor of the All-University Strings.

Now in his eighth year of teaching at Memorial High School, Mr. Chan also serves as the Region 27 Orchestra Division Chair. Outside of teaching, he remains an active performer. He has subbed with regional orchestras such as the La Crosse Symphony Orchestra, the Dubuque Symphony Orchestra, the Galveston Symphony Orchestra, and the Brazos Valley Symphony Orchestra. He currently leads the Houston Civic Symphony as concertmaster and performs regularly in chamber music recitals as a founding member of the Calba Quartet. He is also a regular participant at the AlpenKammerMusik Chamber Music Festival in Austria, where he serves as Administrative Manager.

Leslie Campbell is entering her second year as the Associate Director of Memorial Orchestras and her eleventh year of teaching. Ms. Campbell received bachelor’s degrees in violin performance and music education from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign where she studied with Simin Ganatra and Dr. Louis Bergonzi. She then went on to complete a master’s degree in music education at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music where she studied with Dr. Brenda Brenner. Her research at Indiana University focused around self-directed learning specifically as it applies to practicing a musical instrument and is passionate about teaching students how to practice effectively. She has presented on this topic at the American String Teachers Association national conference and the Texas Music Educators Association conference. Previously, Ms. Campbell has taught at Sugar Land Middle School in Fort Bend, Willow Wood Junior High School in Tomball, and Arlington High School in LaGrangeville, NY. 

Ms. Campbell spends her free time chasing her twin toddlers, Alice and Ellie, around the house. In the rare moments when both twins are asleep, she enjoys running, yoga, and reading. She also is an animal lover and has two dogs, Kingsley and Luna, and one cat, Tonks.