Ray Chen
Violinist and online personality Ray Chen redefines what it means to be a classical musician in the twenty-first century. With a global reach that enhances and inspires a new classical audience, Chen’s remarkable musicianship transmits to millions, through engagements online and with the foremost orchestras and concert halls around the world. Beyond the performing arts, his work also contributes to philanthropy, popular culture, and educational technology.
Initially attracting attention via the Yehudi Menuhin (2008) and Queen Elisabeth (2009) Competitions, of which he was first-prize winner, he has built a profile in Europe, Asia, and the United States, as well as in his native Australia, both live and on disc. Signed in 2017 to Decca Classics, Chen recorded the first album of this partnership with the London Philharmonic in summer 2017, succeeding his previous three critically acclaimed albums on Sony, the first of which (Virtuoso) received an Echo Klassik Award. Profiled as “one to watch” by the Strad and Gramophone magazines, he appeared in the Forbes list of thirty most-influential Asians under 30; has featured in the major online TV series Mozart in the Jungle and in 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.
Chen has appeared with the London Philharmonic Orchestra, National Symphony Orchestra, Leipzig Gewandhausorchester, Munich Philharmonic, Filarmonica della Scala, Orchestra Nazionale della 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 including Riccardo Chailly, Vladimir Jurowski, Sakari Oramo, Manfred Honeck, Daniele Gatti, Kirill Petrenko, Krzysztof Urbański, and Juraj Valčuha.
In 2020 Chen cofounded Tonic, an independent startup that aims to motivate musicians and learners around the world to practice their craft together. Available to download for iOS and Android devices, the innovative new app has already cultivated a highly engaged and supportive community. Chen’s presence on social media makes him a pioneer in how artists interact with their audience, taking advantage of the new opportunities afforded by modern technology. His appearances and relationships with music and musicians are instantly disseminated to a new public in a contemporary and relatable way. Chen is an ambassador for Sony Electronics and 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, inspiring a younger generation of music students with his series of 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, 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 1714 “Dolphin” Stradivarius violin on loan from the Nippon Music Foundation. This instrument was once owned by the famed violinist Jascha Heifetz.