Ka-Wai Yu
Ka-Wai Yu is Associate Professor of Music at Utah Tech University, where he teaches cello and string chamber music. He previously taught at Eastern Illinois University and Indiana Wesleyan University. Dr. Yu is the Principal Cellist of Southwest Symphony Orchestra, and a founding member of the Zion Trio and the period-instrument ensemble Cosmopolitan Baroque. He directs the annual Cello Festival of Southern Utah and Castle Rock String Camp. He is a former president of Utah ASTA. He has presented in national and regional conferences organized by ASTA, NAfME, Historical Keyboard Society of North America and the Southern California School Band and Orchestra Association. Dr. Yu obtained his Doctor of Musical Arts degree from University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. He also holds a Master of Music in Cello Performance from Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music and Bachelor of Arts in Music with first-class honors from the Chinese University of Hong Kong.
Personal Statement
I see ASTA as a welcoming home uniquely bringing string teachers, students and performers, as well as string industries from everywhere together! Being someone who is invested in the ASTA community, I feel the need to contribute to this wonderful organization with my expertise, experience, and vision in response to today’s many challenges. I will be bringing to the national board with over 22 years of teaching experiences. Having taught in both a private and public university, working regularly with pre-college students from diverse backgrounds, being a versatile performer who also performs on period instruments, and being a scholar, conductor and arranger/composer, I have the insight and passion to advocate for different groups in ASTA. I have abundant event-organizing experiences always bringing-in good community-building and professional development ideas. Coming from a diverse cultural, educational and musical background, I will help ASTA transform and reach out to a wider membership network.
Leadership Experience
As a leader, I am experienced as a university professor, board member and former president of nonprofit organizations such as Utah ASTA and Cello Society of Southern Utah, as principal cellist of the Southwest Symphony, and as organizer/director of a music camp, regional competition, and cello festival. My work has brought successes in these organizations’ membership, finances, and new programs. I hope to energize ASTA’s string-education advocacy through my ability to bring different voices together.
Response to Challenges in String Education
We face enormous challenges as string educators in the post-pandemic 21st century from changing demographics, students’ fatigue in learning despite overworked teachers, limited resources, to the fear/excitement of using AI technology in music. I believe ASTA, being a leader of the string community, has the responsibility, opportunity and ability to mitigate these challenges through diversifying its service relevant to everyone, providing up-to-date resources, and building a strong string network and long-term partnership with other organizations.
Response to DEI
As someone who grew up in Hong Kong, I personally understand fully the importance to support students/teachers from various upbringings, cultures and struggles they encounter as they share their unique aspirations and contribution to the collective learning experience. It is important these diverse voices are being heard in ASTA, we incorporate DEIA in our events, promote underrepresented composers/repertoire/performers/scholars/teachers, seek grants to build programs supporting DEIA, and continue collaboration with outside organizations such as Sphinx Organization.
Vision for ASTA
My vision is to create, connect and celebrate. Create a central place for string teachers through fresh programming, providing abundant teaching/learning resources, and productive collaboration. Connect with our state chapters as well as local teachers’ groups, so whatever we do reflects the current needs, and is relevant to the whole string community. Lastly, celebrate diversity of our organization reaching out to old, new, and prospective members coming from various cultural/socio-economical/musical backgrounds, and addressing DEIA needs.