Ray Chen

Ray Chen is redefining what it means to be a classical musician today. Born in Taiwan and raised in Australia, the violinist first gained global recognition after winning First Prize at the Yehudi Menuhin in 2008. Since then, the “phenomenal talent” (The Washington Post) has become a force on and off stage—performing with the world’s leading orchestras while also reaching millions through his charismatic online presence.

Named one of Forbes’ 30 most influential Asians under 30 and as “one to watch” by The Strad and Gramophone, Chen has built a vibrant online presence using humor, insight, and creativity to connect with millions of fans and inspire a new generation of music lovers. He also co-founded Tonic, a music practice app, and is a committed advocate for music education through his self-produced videos.

Whether performing to sold-out crowds at Carnegie Hall or for his 1 million followers on Instagram, Chen brings a rare combination of technical mastery and charm. With a social media reach that matches his virtuosity, he is a singular figure reshaping the classical music landscape one performance, or one post, at a time.

Join us at the Chan Centre as he performs in an intimate concert with a pianist Julio Elizalde.

Program:

Ludwig van Beethoven (1770–1827)
Violin Sonata No. 8 in G major, Op. 30 No. 3
I. Allegro assai
II. Tempo di minuetto, ma molto moderato e grazioso
III. Allegro vivace

Camille Saint-Saëns (1835–1921)
Violin Sonata No. 1 in D minor, Op. 75
I. Allegro agitato – Adagio
II. Allegro moderato – Allegro molto

INTERMISSION

Johann Sebastian Bach (1685–1750)
Partita No. 2 in D minor for Solo Violin, BWV 1004
Chaconne

Antonio Bazzini (1818–1897)
La Ronde des Lutins, Op. 25

Antonín Dvořák (1841–1904)
(Arr. Fritz Kreisler)
Slavonic Dance No. 2 in E minor, Op. 72

Chick Corea (1941–2021)
(Arr. Elizalde & Chen)
Spain