Kevin Chen

Since starting his piano studies at age five, Kevin Chen has been recognized for his achievements from his earliest years in the musical world, placing first in the Canadian Music Competition when he was eight. Following this, he was named one of the CBC’s “Top 30 Hot Canadian Classical Musicians under 30” and one of “100 Remarkable Canadians” in Maclean’s magazine while Kevin was still less than ten years old.

Now 18, his consecutive first-place wins in distinguished international competitions have earned him widespread acclaim, including first prize in the Arthur Rubinstein Piano Master Competition in Tel Aviv, Israel (March 2023); first prize in the Concours de Genève (November 2022); first prize in the Franz Liszt International Piano Competition in Budapest, Hungary (September 2021); first prize in the Hilton Head International Piano Competition in Hilton Head, U.S.A. (March 2020); and first prize in the International Piano-e-Competition in Minneapolis, U.S.A. (July 2019).

In addition to his thoroughly well-received performances in some of the world’s most renowned concert halls, including New York’s Carnegie Hall, London’s St. John’s Smith Square, and Taipei’s National Concert Hall, Kevin has also been invited to perform in many prestigious festivals, such as the Festival International de Piano de la Roque d’Anthéron, the International Chopin Festival in Duszniki-Zdrój, the Chopin and his Europe Festival in Warsaw, and the Oxford Piano Festival.

Kevin has been performing regularly with orchestras since his debut with the Abbotsford Youth Orchestra at the age of seven. These include the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, the Minnesota Orchestra, the Hungarian National Orchestra, the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Taipei Symphony Orchestra, among others.

As of October 2023, Kevin currently studies at the Hochschule für Musik, Theater und Medien Hannover with Professor Arie Vardi. He previously studied privately in Calgary with Professor Marilyn Engle and Colleen Athparia.