Renee Chiu Gastelum

Biography

Chinese Hispanic organist and Silicon Valley native Renee Chiu enjoys a blossoming career as a performer, educator, and speaker. She became a Colleague of the AGO at age 19 and an Associate at age 22. Ms. Chiu graduated Cum Laude with a Bachelor’s Degree of Organ Performance from Brigham Young University, which she earned under the tutelage of Drs. Don Cook and Neil Harmon. She is currently a Master’s candidate there.

Ms. Chiu volunteered in community outreach projects in Taiwan from 2019-2020, where she became fluent in Mandarin. Upon returning to the United States, she taught Mandarin and then established her own private piano/organ studio. In 2023, she created, organized, and directed two summer music camps: one for refugees in Utah, and one for orphans in Taiwan. An interview about her projects will be used in English-learning materials published by the State Department.

Ms. Chiu was also selected to present on her music outreach projects at the Canada-based organization Curriculum Development Collective’s Community Engagement Conference, as well as the Utah Music Teacher Association 2023 Conference. She currently resides in Provo, Utah. For her full bio, please visit www.reneechiumusic.com/about.