MOVING ON: Lou Chen, founder of Princeton University’s Trenton Arts Program (TAP), standing, will soon be relocating to Connecticut for a job as CEO with another community-oriented nonprofit.

By Anne Levin

Nine years ago, Princeton University sophomore Lou Chen started a youth orchestra pairing fellow University musicians with students from Trenton High School. The University hired Chen full time after he graduated, and it wasn’t long before he expanded the music program to include singing, theater and dance.

The Trenton Arts Program (TAP) has grown and flourished — so much so that Chen feels comfortable leaving to pursue the next chapter in his career. He has accepted an offer to be the CEO of INTEMPO, a nonprofit in Stamford, Conn., that engages immigrant families through classical and inter-cultural music education. His last day at TAP is November 15.

“I always had a feeling that I wouldn’t be at Princeton forever, and that I wanted to try something new,” Chen said this week. “I thought I’d be in the job two or three years. But I kind of kept extending it. It became more long-term, and I knew I couldn’t leave until I thought it had deep roots.”

TAP has those roots. Its Saturday Morning Arts Program boasts close to 80 students and alumni. The Trenton Arts Fellowship, a paid professional development opportunity for university students, recently announced its 2024/25 fellows. There are a variety of campus collaborations, notably with Princeton University Concerts (PUC); an artist-in-residence program; and the Neighborhood Music Project which includes artist visits by the likes of famed conductor Gustavo Dudamel (in 2018-19), field trips, and “Express the Music” contests.

PUC director Marna Seltzer first met Chen when he was an undergraduate. “One of our biggest initiatives was a residency with the famed conductor Gustavo Dudamel, and I asked Lou to participate,” she said. “Lou seized that opportunity, engaging as a conductor, educator, and leader of his then-budding Trenton Youth Orchestra. Even as a student, he had a remarkable ability to navigate relationships, and I watched in awe as he thrived, determined to make the most of the experience.”

Chen’s hiring at the University was supported in part by a donation from the Dudamel Foundation. “With careful planning, he extended that support far beyond our expectations,” Seltzer said. “In just five years, Lou has built a vibrant program with students who love him and colleagues who trust his judgment. Even though it was his first job, he learned so quickly that his impact and brilliant leadership made him seem like a seasoned professional. His positive spirit and exceptional people skills have earned him a large network of supporters.”

Trained on the piano and violin, Chen began to explore conducting when he enrolled at Princeton. During his freshman year, he became music director of the Princeton University Players. And he began to observe Ruth Ochs, who leads the Princeton University Symphonia and is associate conductor of the Princeton University Orchestra. Ochs soon invited Chen to become assistant conductor of the Symphonia. Starting TAP was a natural progression.

“It was definitely a challenge,” Chen said. “Starting something from scratch is never easy. I will always be grateful for how invigorating and collaborative the experience was. I was really set up to succeed, because there was a strong committee of people across the Trenton Public Schools who wanted a program like this to succeed. They were always available for late night phone calls. It’s really those teachers who enabled this program to thrive. It’s a really good example of a community that immediately took the reins and co-created this with us.”

It is a misconception that the capital city’s schools lack arts programs, said Chen.

“In the early days, people would come up to me and say, ‘You’re doing such a service, there are no arts in the public schools.’ But now I tell people that they have incredible arts programs,” he said. “Their orchestra takes part in national competitions, and their dance and theater troupes are great. There are a lot of amazing teachers who are doing a lot. Yes, they have less resources than other districts, for sure. But the students coming to us on Saturdays are such well-developed, voracious artists. The teachers have done such a good job setting them up. Working with them is the best part of my job.”

TAP celebrated its fifth anniversary last year with a showcase in Richardson Auditorium. Each of the performing groups from the Saturday Morning Arts program took part, along with solo artists. The event concluded with a collaborative performance.

“For our students, being on that stage at Richardson, which is such an incredible place, for a completely sold-out house, was a really meaningful feather in their cap,” said Chen. “It was very joyful. The orchestra, singers, and theater students performed, and the dancers were dancing in the aisles. This was something I had dreamed up from the beginning, and it was really meaningful. Seeing so many people in the audience who have meant so much to TAP over the years, all in one space, was quite emotional for me, especially knowing that I might be moving on. But at the same time, it was comforting.”

A search for Chen’s successor has begun.

“Losing Lou is a significant loss for everyone at Princeton University Concerts and for me personally,” said Seltzer. “Over the course of my 25-plus-year career in the arts, Lou is one of my all-time favorite colleagues. He is leaving TAP in a strong position and is ready for a new challenge and I am excited to see what he will do next. I’m also confident he’ll stay connected with Princeton, and that’s a huge relief and gift to all of us.”