Globally renowned Taiwanese-Australian violinist and social media sensation Ray Chen touring Australia this September
Violinist and online personality Ray Chen redefines what it means to be a classical musician, with his viral reels and YouTube videos captivating millions of people around the world. His content highlights music’s ability to inspire joy, connection and healing in humans and animals.
Joined by the gifted Julio Elizalde on piano, the virtuosic violinist will perform recitals at Arts Centre Melbourne’s Hamer Hall on 8 September, Sydney Opera House’s Concert Hall on 12 September and the QPAC Concert Hall in Brisbane on 14 September. Tickets are selling fast via Arts Centre Melbourne, Sydney Opera House, and QPAC.
Ray’s new Australian tour follows a huge 2024, with the release of his album Player 1 and the growth of Tonic, the artist’s independent startup that is building a global community via a free platform for musicians and learners to practice their craft together.
Born in Taiwan and raised in Brisbane Australia, Ray Chen has performed with the foremost orchestras and concert halls around the world, as well as 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.
His profile has grown to see him feature in the Forbes list of 30 most influential Asians under 30, secure a multi-year partnership with Giorgio Armani, appear in major streaming series Mozart in the Jungle and in Vogue magazine. Ray is also a music consultant for Riot Games, the leading esports company best known for League of Legends.
Produced in partnership with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Ray’s album Player 1 reveals the links between classical music and gaming. On the album cover, Ray shows us his different
Ray’s merch line with ClassicPixel “brings to life the humorous world of classical music composers”.
In an unmissable music event this September, Australian audiences will see Ray light up the stage with his performance of pieces by Ludwig van Beethoven, Camille Saint-Saëns, Johann Sebastian Bach, Antonio Bazzini, Antonín Dvořák and Chick Corea.
Tickets are expected to sell out, and music lovers are advised to move fast to secure their seats.
“Colors dance, moods swing, and CHEN’S ARTISTRY BLAZES.”
THE TIMES
“TO DIE FOR…the kind of liquid tone that carries with it emotional depth of great intimacy.”
THE HUFFINGTON POST
“…Ray Chen performs them with the kind of authority that puts him in the same category as Maxim Vengerov.”
CORRIERE DELLA SERA
Ray Chen – Biography
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, Ray 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 via the Yehudi Menuhin (2008) and Queen Elizabeth (2009) Competitions, of which he was First Prize winner, he has built a profile in Europe, Asia, and the USA as well as his native Australia both live and on disc. Signed in 2017 to Decca Classics, the summer of 2017 has seen the recording of the first album of this partnership with the London Philharmonic as a succession to 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, his profile has grown to encompass his featuring in the Forbes list of 30 most influential Asians under 30, appearing in major online TV series “Mozart in the Jungle”, a multi-year partnership with Giorgio Armani (who designed the cover of his Mozart album with Christoph Eschenbach) and performing 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 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 such as Riccardo Chailly, Vladimir Jurowski, Sakari Oramo, Manfred Honeck, Daniele Gatti, Kirill Petrenko, Krystof Urbanski, and Juraj Valcuha.
More recently, Ray Chen co-founded Tonic, an independent startup that aims to motivate musicians and learners around the world to practice their craft together. Although new, the innovative app has cultivated a highly engaged and supportive community and is available to download on iOS and Android today. Ray Chen’s presence on social media makes him a pioneer in an artist’s interaction with their audience, utilising the new 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 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, 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 1714 “Dolphin” Stradivarius violin on loan from the Nippon Music Foundation. This instrument was once owned by the famed violinist, Jascha Heifetz.