Sean Chen (pianist)

Sean Chen
Born (1988-08-27) August 27, 1988 (age 36)
Margate, Florida, U.S.
Occupations
  • Pianist
  • composer
  • arranger
  • professor
Musical career
Genresclassical
Years active2013-present
Labels
Websiteseanchenpiano.com

Sean Chen (born August 27, 1988) is an American pianist.

Education

Chen grew up in Oak Park, California,[1] and received private piano instruction from Edward Francis.[2] Chen was accepted into the Juilliard School, and received both his Bachelor and Master of Music degrees there, studying with Jerome Lowenthal and Matti Raekallio. Chen then went on to Yale School of Music and received an Artist Diploma, studying under Hung-Kuan Chen.[3][4]

Awards

In 2013, Chen won both the American Piano Awards[5] and third prize at the 14th Van Cliburn International Piano Competition.[6] Subsequently, he was awarded the Leonore Annenberg Fellowship in 2015.[7]

Chen awards prior to his 2013 successes include the Juilliard Concerto Competition in 2008, Best Performance of an American Work at the Cleveland International Piano Competition in 2009, and the Juilliard Gina Bachauer Competition in 2010, and 2nd prize at the 2011 Seoul International Music Competition.[8]

While a graduate student at Juilliard, Chen also received the prestigious Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowship for New Americans in 2010.

Career

Throughout his performances, Chen has played with orchestras such as the Fort Worth, Indianapolis, Kansas City, San Diego, Knoxville, Hartford, Louisiana Philharmonic, Milwaukee, North Carolina, Pasadena, Phoenix, Santa Fe, and New West Symphony Orchestras, as well as the Chamber Orchestras of Philadelphia, Indianapolis, and South Bay, collaborating with such esteemed conductors as Leonard Slatkin, Michael Stern, Gerard Schwarz, Nicholas McGegan, Miguel Harth-Bedoya, Marcelo Lehninger, and James Judd.[9]

Chen also transcribes, composes, and improvises. His concert arrangements for piano include Overture to the Marriage of Figaro, the slow movement from Rachmaninoff Symphony No. 2, Ravel's La Valse, Overture to Candide, and the Finale to Beethoven Symphony No. 9. His most recent original composition is Daydream No. 1 - Steps, commissioned as a gift for the retirement of American Pianists Association's President/CEO.[10]

Chen currently serves as Artist-in-Residence at the University of Missouri–Kansas City Conservatory[11] and is managed by Jonathan Wentworth Associates, Ltd.[3]

Discography

  • Ravel: Le tombeau de Couperin, Sonatine (2021, Steinway & Sons)
  • KaleidosCoping (with Celeste Johnson, oboe and Michael Gordon, flute) (2019, Equilibrium)
  • La Valse (2014, Steinway & Sons)
  • For the Young Artist: Works of Michael Glenn Williams (2014, Navona)
  • Sean Chen: Crystal Award - Fourteenth Van Cliburn International Piano Competition (2013, harmonia mundi)

References

  1. ^ Lindell, Karen (6 June 2013). "Oak Park pianist Sean Chen talks about preparation for Cliburn finals". VC Star. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
  2. ^ "Ventura Music Festival present pianist Sean Chen". Performing Arts Live. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
  3. ^ a b Sweet, Amanda (3 September 2019). "2013 American Pianists Awards Winner Sean Chen Joins Jonathan Wentworth Associates Roster". Musical America. Bucklesweet. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
  4. ^ "Sean Chen (Piano) - Short Biography". www.bach-cantatas.com. Retrieved 2018-06-20.
  5. ^ Clifford, Lee. "Sean Chen - American Pianists Association". www.americanpianists.org. Retrieved 2018-06-20.
  6. ^ "2020 Festival Artists: Sean Chen". The Cliburn. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
  7. ^ Gelt, Jessica (7 April 2015). "SoCal pianist Sean Chen wins Annenberg arts fellowship". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
  8. ^ "[2nd Prize] Sean Chen". seoulcompetition.com. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
  9. ^ Walzak, Josh. "Award-winning pianist to perform in Foxburg". The Leader-Vindicator. thecourierexpress. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
  10. ^ "Pianist Sean Chen, "Poetic & Dazzling" Van Cliburn Competition Winner". Allegheny RiverStone Arts. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
  11. ^ "Sean Chen". UMKC Conservatory Faculty. Retrieved 26 October 2023.