His college search was initially focused on music programs. \u201cI’ve been playing for a decade now, and at that time, I was in love with playing the instrument, and I couldn’t see myself not playing it.\u201d During a visit to UC\u2019s Cincinnati Conservatory of Music, he worked with a faculty professor who encouraged him to also try a lesson with his wife, Sarah Kim<\/a>, a cello professor at Miami. Marcus stumbled upon the arts management track while learning more about Miami, and saw an opportunity to add business skills to the mix, \u201coriginally thinking to market myself, especially as a musician, that’s something we definitely can struggle with at times to advocate for ourselves in that way.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n What drew him to accounting was the chance to build real, practical skills that aren\u2019t always easy to acquire independently. \u201cWhile I saw a lot of the other minors, say marketing or entrepreneurship, as skills that you can learn quickly by taking classes, they’re skills that I can definitely learn also outside of the classroom,\u201d he explained. \u201cAccounting seemed like a good skill to focus on, one that is, in some ways, like a different language, especially reading financial statements and understanding accounting terminology\u2026 I don’t have quite as much knowledge with that, and that could be something a bit more challenging to figure out.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n He also received advice that reinforced the universal value of accounting skills. \u201cA lot of the advice I got was, you can never go wrong with having accounting knowledge,\u201d he said. \u201cThat\u2019s always a staple in any business, any for-profit, non-profit, doesn\u2019t matter.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n One course in particular made a lasting impression. \u201cI was taking the not-for-profit and government accounting course with Professor Qing Burke<\/a>\u2026 and that\u2019s been one of the best, in terms of really learning what a not-for-profit financial statement is,\u201d Marcus said. He emphasized that the accountancy minor also keeps future options open. \u201cI have a foot in the door if I want to go into for-profit companies with that knowledge as well,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Marcus puts his accounting knowledge to work while serving as treasurer of Miami\u2019s Asian American Association, the university\u2019s largest multicultural student organization. \u201cI\u2019ve definitely utilized a lot of the accounting information from the way I\u2019ve been budgeting for our organization,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Marcus has also pursued multiple internships that combine arts administration, data analysis, and performance \u2014 leaning on his accountancy background throughout. His first internship with the Institute for Public Arts (Cincinnati) had him design surveys, upload data, and analyze results alongside partner arts organizations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But Marcus\u2019s experiences aren\u2019t limited to the United States. In Europe, he took a monthlong internship in orchestra administration with Prague Summer Nights<\/a> 2025, an orchestra and opera festival where he tackled \u201ca lot of the pre-festival work\u2026 from scheduling to the actual production side.\u201d He served as stage manager for three different concerts in different cities in the Czech Republic. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Amid the extensive coordination and planning, he also gained rare professional opportunities, including playing Dvo\u0159\u00e1k\u2019s New World Symphony with internationally renowned conductor Marin Alsop and studying with Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra principal cellist Tamas Varga\u2014experiences most students only dream about.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Looking ahead, Marcus plans to pursue a career in orchestra administration, with the long-term goal of becoming a CEO of an orchestra. He sees accounting knowledge as essential preparation for that responsibility. \u201cWhen you get to that kind of position, you have to be knowledgeable about every department of whatever company you\u2019re working for,\u201d he said. \u201cOne of those that was glaring to me was, I\u2019m gonna have to know the financial department.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"Photo](\"http:\/\/sites.miamioh.edu\/doamu2\/files\/2026\/01\/Marcus-Cheung-Cello-Headshot_web.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nBuilding Financial Fluency for the Arts<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"Asian](\"http:\/\/sites.miamioh.edu\/doamu2\/files\/2026\/01\/AAA-Exec-Board-at-Asian-Cultural-Festival_web-1024x768.jpg\")
From the Classroom to the Real World<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"Photo](\"http:\/\/sites.miamioh.edu\/doamu2\/files\/2026\/01\/Performance-of-Dvorak-New-World-Symphony-in-Czech-Republic_web-1024x683.jpg\")