In 1955, Chen Mao-shuen enrolled in the department of music at Taiwan Provincial Normal College (now
National Taiwan Normal University), majoring in piano. In his last college year, he studied music analysis and composition with , who had just finished his studies in
France and come back to Taiwan. He began to teach at Chiayi Normal College (presently
National Chiayi University) in 1966. In 1970, he went to
Vienna to study composition at the Hochschule für Musik und Darstellende Kunst (now
University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna). In 1972, Chen returned from Vienna and began to teach music at
Soochow University and National Taiwan Normal University. From 1985 to 1991, Chen was dean of the Department of Music and Institute of Music Research at National Taiwan Normal University. He also served as deputy director of the Experimental Symphony Orchestra (now the
National Symphony Orchestra) and the National Experimental Choir (now the Taiwan National Choir). After retiring from National Taiwan Normal University in 1999, Chen began to teach as a guest professor for the department of music at
Shih Chien University. Beginning in 2008, Chen taught as a distinguished visiting professor in the Department of Applied Music at
Aletheia University. Chen died on 15 July 2023, at the age of 87. == Contributions to composition and music education ==