Alan Chan, Student Services Program Manager
Originally from Louisville, KY, Alan started his journey at CU Boulder in 2020 to pursue a master’s in violin performance and pedagogy. After a few years of traveling throughout the state and country performing and teaching music, Alan returned to CU as an academic advisor for the Program in Exploratory Studies before recently starting his current role in CU Engineering. Alan spends his free time with his wife, Regina, traveling to new places across the world – both remote and urban – trying new cuisines, rock climbing and hiking. While at home, Alan and Regina spend their time appeasing and entertaining their snowshoe cat, Biscotti.
What do you like to do to unwind?
Video games! Favorites include: Animal Crossing (my pandemic / graduate school project: 2,000+ hours!), Super Smash Bros, Legend of Zelda, Hollow Knight, Baba is You
Where is the best place you’ve traveled to and why?
White Rim Overlook via Gooseberry Trail in Canyonlands National Park. Unlike much of the alpine hiking here in CO, all of the elevation gain is the last thing you do (1,200 ft in the last mile)! Regina and I watched the most incredible sunrise as we descended into the canyon and we didn't see anyone the entire time.
What’s something most people don’t know about you?
While I occasionally perform with local ensembles including the Boulder Philharmonic Orchestra, I frequently perform locally with my newly formed, dual string trio (violin, viola, cello) and piano trio (violin, cello, piano).
What has been your favorite project so far, either personal or professional?
2,000 hours of Animal Crossing apparently translated directly towards interior decorating! I love the challenge of taking spaces, both small and large, and transforming them into spaces that are inviting that promote artistry and productivity. There's nothing like the satisfaction of finding — or thrifting — just the right piece of furniture with its shape, color, dimensions, and feeling for a space.
If you could choose anyone, who would you pick as your mentor?
As a master's student here at CU, I had the privilege of being TA to the late professor of violin Charles "Chas" Wetherbee, who embodied all of the characteristics of an everlasting mentor: encouraging, supportive, reasonably demanding, humorous, and inspiring. Though our time together was short, he imparted to me the most important lesson of being a musician, which was trying to answer the question "why do I play music?" While this is frankly impossible to communicate with words, I know that I would not be here today at CU and with the support of my family and friends without Chas as my mentor.
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