Originally from San Bernardino, California, Lou Chen serves as the program manager for Trenton Arts at Princeton (TAP) and the director of the Trenton Youth Orchestra (TYO). He graduated from Princeton University, where he received his bachelor’s degree in music (summa cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa) and certificates in orchestral conducting and American studies. Having founded TYO as a sophomore, after graduation Lou was hired by the University to develop a larger arts outreach initiative, now known as TAP. He is a passionate advocate for accessible arts education and place-based community engagement. In 2023, he was received the Tiger Entrepreneur Award from the Princeton Entrepreneurship Council.