Christina Fong is a second-generation Chinese American born, raised, and educated in Chicago, Il. Her parents came to the US on student visas, graduated, worked for corporate America, and later opened two restaurants. Her parents valued education above almost everything else. She attended Northwestern University and earned a bachelor's and master's degree in violin performance. She graduated Phi Kappa Lambda and earned the title of Eckstein Scholar. Immediately after graduation, she won a job in the Florida Philharmonic Orchestra. Wanting to move back north, she auditioned for and a job as a section violinist with the Grand Rapids Symphony. Several years later, she won the job of Associate Concertmaster, a leadership role. In addition to her orchestral work, Christina is a new music specialist and has recorded over a dozen full-length recordings of previously unrecorded and largely unknown works by historically significant composers. For her contribution to the field of new music, in 2010, she was honored with a Fulbright Hayes grant to perform and teach master classes in Minsk, Belarus.
Jackie Frens has been an educator in New Jersey, Michigan and at an international school near Jakarta, Indonesia. She was adopted from South Korea. She has lived in South Korea, Japan and Indonesia as well as Virginia, New Jersey, California and Michigan. She has served as a panelist for discussions involving adoption and bridge building surrounding anti-racism. She is honored to serve on the West Michigan Asian American Association Board as she considers it an opportunity to connect with other marginalized communities in West Michigan.
