Ray Chen

Ray Chen is a violinist who redefines what it is to be a classical musician in the 21st century. With a media presence reaching millions, Ray Chen's remarkable musicianship transmits to a global audience, reflected in his engagements with the foremost orchestras and concert halls around the world. 

Initially coming to the world’s attention through winning first prize at both the Yehudi Menuhin (2008) and Queen Elizabeth (2009) competitions, Ray has built a profile in Europe, Asia, and the United States, as well as his native Australia. Signed in 2017 to Decca Classics, Ray’s forthcoming recording with the London Philharmonic follows three critically acclaimed albums on SONY, the first of which, entitled Virtuoso, received an ECHO Klassik Award.  

Ray’s profile continues to grow: he was featured on Forbes’ list of 30 most influential Asians under 30; made a guest appearance on Amazon’s Mozart in the Jungle TV series; and performed for a live TV audience on France’s Bastille Day, as well as at the Nobel Prize Concert in Stockholm. Ray’s commitment to music education is paramount, and he inspires younger generations of music students with his series of self-produced videos combining comedy and music. 

Born in Taiwan and raised in Australia, Ray 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).