About this Artist
Ray Chen is a violinist who redefines what it is to be a classical musician in the 21st century. With a media presence reaching out to millions, Chen possesses a remarkable musicianship that transmits to a global audience, reflected in his engagements with the foremost orchestras and concert halls around the world.
Initially coming to attention via the Yehudi Menuhin (2008) and Queen Elizabeth (2009) competitions, of which he was First Prize winner, Chen has built a profile in Europe, Asia, and the U.S., as well as his native Australia. Signed in 2017 to Decca Classics, Chen recorded his forthcoming album with the London Philharmonic Orchestra, following three critically acclaimed albums on Sony, the first of which (Virtuoso) received an ECHO Klassik Award.
Ray Chen’s profile continues to grow: He was featured on Forbes’ list of the 30 most influential Asians under 30; made a guest appearance on Amazon’s Mozart in the Jungle TV series; performed for a live TV audience on France’s Bastille Day; and played at the Nobel Prize Concert in Stockholm.
Chen has performed with the London Philharmonic Orchestra, National Symphony Orchestra, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Pittsburgh Symphony, and San Francisco Symphony, among others, and will debut with the Berlin Radio Symphony and Bavarian Radio Chamber Orchestra. He works regularly with conductors such as Riccardo Chailly, Vladimir Jurowski, Manfred Honeck, Daniele Gatti, Kirill Petrenko, and many others.
Chen’s commitment to music education is paramount, and he inspires younger generations of musicians with his series of self-produced videos combining comedy and music. Through his online promotions, his appearances regularly sell out and draw an entirely new demographic to the concert hall.
Born in Taiwan and raised in Australia, Chen was accepted to the Curtis Institute of Music at age 15, where he studied with Aaron Rosand and was supported by Young Concert Artists. He plays the 1715 “Joachim” Stradivarius violin on loan from the Nippon Music Foundation. This instrument was once owned by the famed Hungarian violinist Joseph Joachim (1831–1907).