ABOUT THE ARTIST

Violinist and online personality Ray Chen redefines what it means to be a classical musician in the 21st century. With a global reach that inspires new audiences, his extraordinary musicianship connects millions worldwide through both live performance and digital platforms. Beyond the concert stage, his work extends into philanthropy, popular culture, and educational technology.

Chen first gained international recognition as First Prize winner of the Yehudi Menuhin Competition (2008) and the Queen Elizabeth Competition (2009). Since then, he has built a major international career spanning Europe, Asia, the United States, and his native Australia. Signed to Decca Classics in 2017, he recorded his debut album with the London Philharmonic Orchestra, following three critically acclaimed releases on SONY, including Virtuoso, which received an ECHO Klassik Award. He has been profiled as “one to watch” by The Strad and Gramophone, named to Forbes’ list of 30 most influential Asians under 30, and has appeared in the television series Mozart in the Jungle. His work beyond music includes a multi-year partnership with Giorgio Armani and performances at major international events such as France’s Bastille Day celebrations, the Nobel Prize Concert, and the BBC Proms.

As a soloist, Chen has appeared with many of the world’s leading orchestras, including the London Philharmonic Orchestra, Leipzig Gewandhausorchester, Munich Philharmonic, Filarmonica della Scala, Los Angeles Philharmonic, New York Philharmonic, San Francisco Symphony, and Berlin Radio Symphony. He collaborates regularly with prominent conductors such as Riccardo Chailly, Vladimir Jurowski, Manfred Honeck, Daniele Gatti, and Kirill Petrenko.

Deeply committed to innovation and education, Chen co-founded Tonic, an independent app designed to help musicians practice and learn together. A pioneer in artist–audience engagement, his social media presence reaches a new generation of listeners and helps bring fresh audiences into the concert hall.

Born in Taiwan and raised in Australia, Chen entered the Curtis Institute of Music at age 15, studying with Aaron Rosand. In 2025, he began an in-depth exploration of rare violins and currently performs on a 1727 Stradivarius.