che-yen

Described by the Strad Magazine as a musician whose “tonal distinction and

essential musicality produced an auspicious impression”, Taiwanese violist

Che-Yen Chen (also known as “Brian” Chen) has established himself as a

prominent recitalist, chamber, and orchestral musician. He captured first prize

at the 2003 William Primrose Viola Competition and the "President prize" at the

2003 Lionel Tertis Viola Competition, and he recently has distinguished himself

by qualifying for the principal viola positions of both Los Angeles Philharmonic

and San Francisco Symphony. He has performed throughout the US and

abroad in venues such as Alice Tully Hall, Merkin Hall, Weill Recital Hall,

Carnegie Hall, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Jordan Hall, Library of Congress,

Kimmel Center, Taiwan National Concert Hall, Wigmore Hall, and Snape Malting

Concert Hall.

A founding member of the Formosa Quartet, the first prize and the Amadeus

prize winner of the 10th London International String Quartet Competition, Mr.

Chen is an advocate of chamber music. He has been a member of the Lincoln

Center Chamber Music Society Two, the Jupiter Chamber Players, and has

toured with Musicians from Marlboro after three summers at the Marlboro Music

Festival. A participant at the Ravinia Festival, Mr. Chen was featured in the

festival's Rising Star series and the inaugural Musicians from Ravinia tour.

Other festival appearances include the Kingston Chamber Music Festival,

International Viola Congress, Mainly Mozart, Chamber Music International, La

Jolla Summerfest, Primrose Festival, Bath International Music Festival,

Aldeburgh Festival, Taiwan Connection, Incontri in Terra di Siena, Emilia

Romagna Festival, and numerous others. Mr. Chen has also taught and

performed at summer programs such as Hotchkiss Summer Portal, Blue

Mountain Festival, Academy of Taiwan Strings, Interlochen, and has given

master-classes at the University of Southern California, Taiwan National Arts

University and the University of California Santa Barbara.

Mr. Chen began studying viola at the age of six with Ben Lin. A four-time winner

of the National Viola Competition in Taiwan, Mr. Chen came to the US and

studied at the Curtis Institute and the Juilliard School under the guidance of

Michael Tree, Joseph de Pasquale, and Paul Neubauer. Mr. Chen has served on

the faculty at Indiana University-South Bend where he taught viola and

chamber music. Mr. Chen is currently teaching at San Diego State University

and University of California San Diego, and serves as principal violist of the San

Diego Symphony.