KuanFen Liu
Camarillo, Calif., Nov. 14, 2016 — CSU Channel Islands (CI) Assistant Professor of Performing Arts KuanFen Liu has been presented with the City of Ventura’s prestigious 2016 Mayor’s Arts Award.
Liu, who holds a doctorate in Musical Arts (DMA), was among six recipients who received an award for one of six categories. Liu’s Mayor’s Arts Award was in the category of Artist in the Community.
The individual award goes to an established artist in any discipline who shows artistic excellence and singular efforts to contribute to Ventura’s cultural vitality.
Liu was presented with her award during a Nov. 3 reception at the Museum of Ventura County.
Supporter of the arts and CSU Northridge Physics & Astronomy Lecturer Henning Ottsen, who teaches the Physics of Music, noted that “KuanFen has been a force in the music community of this city since she arrived in 1999” as a doctoral student.
Liu led the bell, children’s and chancel choirs at First United Methodist Church for more than 15 years. She presents concerts to almost 2,000 fourth graders each year at their schools and works on year-round music programs with several school districts.
Liu said receiving the award was a complete surprise.
“I have known people in the community whom I respect who have won this award and I look up to them,” she said. “The fact that I’m receiving the award really humbles me.”
Established in 2005, the Mayor’s Arts Awards recognize the contributions to the cultural community by city residents, artists, educators, organizations and business leaders. The goal of this program is to help cultivate greater visibility and understanding of the value of the arts, as well as grow new leadership and new patrons of the arts.
“These annual awards are an important tradition for everyone who loves the arts and Ventura,” said Ventura Mayor Erik Nasarenko. “They cultivate a greater visibility and understanding of the value of the arts to the public at large and are one small way to say ‘well done’ and ‘thank you’ to all participants in our creative community.”
Besides teaching at CI, Liu’s tireless work has included founding and conducting the Channel Islands Chamber Orchestra and Channel Islands Choral Association since 2004. The choir draws a combination of students, faculty, staff and community members from age 17 past 65+. Under Liu’s steady baton, the choir performs masterworks such as Leonard Bernstein’s “Chichester Psalms” and Mozart’s “Requiem.”
Liu said bringing campus members together with community members fosters relationships and brings additional perspective to all choir members.
“We have actors, engineers, business entrepreneurs — they all come from various backgrounds,” Liu said. “It broadens students’ social and networking circle. In addition to singing, students actually get jobs and recommendations.”
More than anything, making music together has communal value like nothing else, she said, because “When they sing, they communicate with their souls.”
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About California State University Channel Islands
CSU Channel Islands(CI) is the only four-year, public university in Ventura County and is known for its interdisciplinary, multicultural and international perspectives, and its emphasis on experiential and service learning. CI’s strong academic programs focus on business, sciences, liberal studies, teaching credentials, and innovative master’s degrees. Students benefit from individual attention, up-to-date technology, and classroom instruction augmented by outstanding faculty research. CI has been designated by the U.S. Department of Education as a Hispanic-Serving Institution and is committed to serving students of all backgrounds from the region and beyond. Connect with and learn more by visiting CI's Social Media.