Ray Chen

Violinist and online personality Ray Chen redefines what it means to be a classical musician in the 21st century. With a global reach that enhances and inspires a new classical audience, Chen’s remarkable musicianship transmits to millions around the world, reflected through his engagements both online and with the foremost orchestras and concert halls around the world. Beyond the performing arts, his work has also contributed to philanthropy, popular culture, and educational technology.

Initially coming to attention as First Prize winner of the Yehudi Menuhin (2008) and Queen Elizabeth (2009) competitions, Chen has built a profile in Europe, Asia, and the US, as well as his native Australia, both live and on disc. Profiled as “one to watch” by The Strad and Gramophone magazines, he was featured in the Forbes list of the 30 most influential Asians under 30 and appeared in the TV series Mozart in the Jungle, forged a multiyear partnership with Giorgio Armani (who designed the cover of his Mozart album with Christoph Eschenbach), and performed at major media events such as France’s Bastille Day (live to 800,000 people), the Nobel Prize Concert in Stockholm (telecast across Europe), and the BBC Proms.

He has appeared with the London Philharmonic Orchestra, National Symphony Orchestra, Leipzig Gewandhausorchester, Munich Philharmonic, Filarmonica della Scala, Orchestra dell’Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia, Los Angeles Philharmonic, SWR Symphony, New York Philharmonic, San Francisco Symphony, Pittsburgh Symphony, Berlin Radio Symphony, and Bavarian Radio Chamber Orchestra. He works with conductors such as Riccardo Chailly, Vladimir Jurowski, Sakari Oramo, Manfred Honeck, Daniele Gatti, Kirill Petrenko, Krzysztof Urbanski, and Juraj Valčuha.

More recently, Ray Chen cofounded Tonic, an independent start-up that aims to motivate musicians and learners around the world to practice their craft together. The innovative app has cultivated a highly engaged and supportive community and is available to download on iOS and Android. Chen’s presence on social media makes him a pioneer in an artist’s interaction with the audience, using the opportunities of modern technology. His appearances and interactions with music and musicians are instantly disseminated to a new public in a contemporary and relatable way. He is an ambassador for Sony Electronics; a music consultant for Riot Games, the leading esports company best known for League of Legends; and has been featured in Vogue magazine. He released his own design of a violin case for the industry manufacturer GEWA and proudly plays Thomastik-Infeld strings. His commitment to music education is paramount and inspires the younger generation of musicians with his self-produced videos combining comedy, education, 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, Ray Chen was accepted at age 15 to the Curtis Institute of Music, where he studied with Aaron Rosand and was supported by Young Concert Artists. He plays the 1714 “Dolphin” Stradivarius violin on loan from the Nippon Music Foundation, an instrument that was once owned by the violinist Jascha Heifetz.