Maryland native Colleen Tan began studying the violin at the age of nine. Her principal violin teachers include Robert Gerle and Piotr Milewski. Colleen earned her Master of Music in Violin Performance at University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, which she attended through the graces of a full scholarship. She graduated with a Bachelor of Music in both Violin Performance and Instrumental Music Education at The Catholic University of America, where she was a Ward scholar, graduating magna cum laude. Her summer training included performing at the Brevard Music Festival as a Repertory Training Fellow, Opera Teatro di Lucca (Italy) and with the Summer Opera Theater Company (Washington, DC). She has performed chamber music in many of the embassies in Washington, DC,  for West Virginia Govenor Joe Manchin at the Govenor's Mansion, and for the West Virginia Legislature.

 An avid lover of all genres of music, Colleen has performed with the Montclaire String Quartet, Cincinnati Ballet, Harrisburg Symphony, and with the Washington Concert Opera. She was a member of the West Virginia Symphony Orchestra and served as a conductor for the West Virginia Youth Symphony Youth Strings Ensemble. She is a violinist in the Lake String Quartet, the quartet in residence at Yellowstone National Park and is a founding member of String Shift.

 Serving as Orchestra Director at Canterbury School, Colleen teaches and directs orchestras for students in grades three through twelve. She has established a Middle School  Chamber Orchestra and a High School Camerata ensemble to complement the orchestra program.  Ms.Tan has served on the string faculty at Marshall University. A strong believer in service, she has served as President of WV ASTA Chapter and Vice President of the WV Orchestra Directors Association. She is a member of  Sigma Alpha Iota music fraternity and Pi Kappa Lambda. She is the current chairperson for the American String Teachers Association's national ASTACAP Committee. A National Board Certified Teacher in Orchestra for Early Adolescents and Young Adults, she has enjoyed conducting bands, honors orchestras, and presenting at national ASTA conferences.She maintains a private violin studio in Fort Wayne. Colleen is married to Philharmonic violinist Timothy Tan and they are blessed with two young musicians.