LEADERSHIP · CONSULTING · COACHING
Leadership Consulting
with Dr. Archie Chen
Executive Director · Artistic Director · Educator · Career Coach
Available for non-profit consulting, leadership development, and professional coaching
in Spokane or remotely worldwide.
EXECUTIVE PROFILE
Leadership Consultant. Arts Executive. Educator. Coach.
“A great talent, both as instrumentalist and musician.”
— Ralf Gothoni, Royal Academy of Music, London
Dr. Archie Chen offers leadership consulting and executive coaching grounded in over two decades of experience founding, building, and directing internationally acclaimed arts organizations. As Adjunct Instructor of Music (Applied Piano) at Gonzaga University, former Co-Executive Director of Holy Names Music Center, Founder and Artistic Director of the Dublin International Piano Festival, and former faculty at the Royal Irish Academy of Music and TU Dublin Conservatory, Dr. Chen brings a rare combination of artistic excellence and administrative leadership to every engagement.
Combining 40 years of collective arts administration experience with his partner Rhona Gouldson-Chen, Dr. Chen offers leadership consulting and coaching services to non-profits, universities, arts organizations, and individual professionals seeking strategic guidance, operational clarity, and career momentum. He operates from Spokane, Washington and works with clients locally and remotely worldwide.
POSITIONS & CREDENTIALS
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Adjunct Instructor of Music (Applied Piano)
Gonzaga University, Spokane, WA (2026–present)
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Co-Executive Director
Holy Names Music Center, Spokane, WA (2023–2026)
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Founder & Artistic Director
Dublin International Piano Festival & Summer Academy (2012–present)
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Co-Founder & Director
Piano Academy of Ireland, Dublin (2006–present)
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Co-Founder
National Piano Festival, Ireland (2008–present)
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Assistant Lecturer in Piano
Royal Irish Academy of Music, Dublin (15-year tenure)
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Assistant Lecturer in Piano
TU Dublin Conservatory of Music & Drama
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Artist of the Year
NY Classical Music Society (2013)
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Music Bursary Award
Arts Council of Ireland (2016)
AREAS OF EXPERTISE
Where Dr. Chen Delivers Results
01
Arts Administration & Festival Direction
Founded and directed internationally recognized piano festivals across two continents. Deep expertise in programming, faculty recruitment, budget management, sponsor relations, and audience development. Proven track record growing organizations from concept to acclaimed institutions.
03
Music Education & Curriculum Development
Creator of four comprehensive online education programs covering piano pedagogy, literature, historically informed performance, and music entrepreneurship. Former faculty at two of Ireland’s foremost conservatories with a 15-year tenure in higher education.
02
Non-profit Executive Leadership
Co-Executive Director of Holy Names Music Center from 2023 to 2026, with 40+ combined years of arts organization leadership. Skilled in institutional strategy, board governance, community engagement, fundraising, and mission-driven management. Experienced navigating both growth phases and organizational transitions.
04
Career Coaching & Artist Development
Track record of guiding students to prestigious conservatories, competition victories, faculty positions, and international performance careers. Specializes in audition preparation, personal branding, portfolio development, and long-term career strategy for musicians and educators.
TRACK RECORD
A Career Built on Results
2012
Dublin International Piano Festival
Founded the DIPF & Summer Academy — growing it into a prestigious 9-day international event with world-class faculty including Edmund Battersby, Evelyne Brancart, and HJ Lim. Relaunched its 6th edition in 2019 as one of Europe’s premier piano events.
2023
Holy Names Music Center
Served as Co-Executive Director of one of Spokane’s most beloved music institutions through January 2026, bringing decades of arts administration, festival leadership, and higher education experience to a period of growth and transition.
2026
Gonzaga University
Appointed to the piano faculty of Gonzaga University as Adjunct Instructor of Music (Applied Piano), teaching applied piano to performance majors, music minors, and students from every discipline across the university.
15 yrs
Royal Irish Academy of Music
Fifteen years as faculty at Ireland’s two foremost conservatories — while simultaneously co-founding two international festivals and developing four comprehensive online education programs serving musicians worldwide.
SERVICES
Leadership Consulting Services
All services available in Spokane, WA or remotely worldwide.
Educational Consulting
Strategic guidance on curriculum development, program design, and academic administration for music schools and universities.
Non-profit Consulting
Operational strategy, governance, fundraising, and organizational growth consulting for arts non-profits at any stage — from founding through succession.
Leadership Development
Leadership consulting and professional development building the skills, mindset, and presence of effective artistic and institutional leaders through targeted coaching and mentoring.
Executive Coaching
Leadership consulting and one-on-one executive coaching for arts administrators and organizational leaders navigating growth, transition, and strategic decisions.
Training
Customized workshops and training programs for musicians, educators, and arts professionals on a wide range of professional topics.
Career Development Coaching
Structured coaching for musicians and educators building sustainable, fulfilling professional careers in the arts.
Interview Preparation
Targeted coaching for faculty positions, leadership roles, graduate school applications, auditions, and competition preparation.
Resume & CV Review
Expert critique and professional rewriting of CVs, artist statements, bios, grant applications, and application materials.
Video Production
End-to-end video production for concert documentation, promotional content, masterclasses, and digital marketing campaigns.
Video Editing
Professional post-production editing for performance recordings, educational videos, online courses, and institutional content.
RECOGNITION
What They Say
“The grand gesture, whether of gorgeously full tone or daring velocity, seems to be at the heart of Chen’s approach… a fiery temperament, and the necessary elements of technique are there to support it.”
— The Irish Times
“A performance that has stayed longer in the memory than anything else… a drily witty performance.”
— International Piano Magazine
Sony Classical Records
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Carnegie Hall & Lincoln Center
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Spokane Symphony
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RTÉ Concert Orchestra
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The Spokesman-Review
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Spokane Public Radio
CONSULTING FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What types of organizations does Dr. Chen consult with?
Dr. Chen provides leadership consulting and strategic guidance to non-profit arts organizations, universities, music schools, and conservatories, as well as individual musicians and music educators. He has particular expertise in D
Does Dr. Chen work remotely or only in Spokane?
Dr. Chen is based in Spokane, Washington and works with clients both locally and remotely worldwide. Video consultations, coaching sessions, online workshops, and training programs are all available regardless of location.
What does an Executive Coaching engagement look like?
Engagements typically begin with a discovery session to establish goals, followed by regular leadership consulting and coaching calls focusing on organizational strategy, leadership development, stakeholder managEngagements typically begin with a discovery session to establish goals, followed by regular leaders
Can Dr. Chen assist with grant applications and fundraising?
Yes. Drawing on his own experience securing grants from the Arts Council of Ireland and managing multi-program festivals, Dr. Chen offers guidance on grant writing, funding strategy, donor cultivation, and building sustainable revenue streams for arts organizations.
How do I begin working with Dr. Chen?
Please reach out via the contact form or email info@archiechen.com with a brief description of your organization or professional goals. Dr. Chen typically responds within 48 hours to schedule an initial consultation.
How Engagements Work
A Clear Process, Built Around Your Situation
Every organization arrives at a different point — founding, scaling, stabilizing, or handing over. Engagements are scoped to that reality rather than to a fixed package.
- 01
Initial Consultation
A conversation about where the organization or career currently stands, what is working, and what is not. No cost, no obligation.
- 02
Scope & Proposal
A written proposal setting out objectives, deliverables, timeline, and fee — whether that is a short diagnostic or a multi-month program.
- 03
The Work
Sessions, workshops, board presentations, or one-to-one coaching, delivered in Spokane or remotely, at a cadence that fits your calendar.
- 04
Handover
Documented recommendations your team can act on without ongoing dependence, plus an agreed follow-up point to review progress.
Who Dr. Chen Works With
Clients & Contexts
Two decades of founding and running arts organizations on two continents, applied to the problems those organizations actually face.
Arts Non-Profits
Music schools, festivals, and community arts organizations working through growth, funding pressure, governance questions, or leadership succession.
Universities & Conservatories
Music departments and conservatories developing curriculum, restructuring programs, or strengthening faculty and student outcomes.
Boards & Executive Teams
Trustees and senior staff who need an outside read on strategy, structure, or the working relationship between board and executive.
Individual Musicians & Educators
Performers, teachers, and administrators building a career, preparing for auditions or faculty applications, or moving into leadership.
Dr. Chen has built organizations from nothing, run them for years, taught inside two national conservatories, and handed institutions on to successors. Advice here comes from having done the work, not from observing it.
Work with Dr. Archie Chen
Whether you are building a new arts organization, developing your leadership team, launching a program, or navigating a career transition — Dr. Chen brings world-class expertise and a proven track record to every engagement.
Available for consulting projects, coaching programs, speaking engagements, and workshops in Spokane, WA or remotely worldwide.