Tony Yan Tong Chen
- Young American Pianist
Tony Yan Tong Chen was born in New Zealand and is currently studying at the Eastman School of Music in New York, in the studio of Professor Alan Chow. He was recently awarded the 1st prize in the 2019 Wallace National Piano Competition in Auckland. During his time in New Zealand, he studied with Dr. Rae de Lisle under the Young Scholars Program at the University of Auckland, where he was a semifinalist in the PACANZ National Young Performer Award and had performances broadcast on RadioNZ Concert. Other prizes won include scholarships from the Manukau Symphony, Waikanae Music Society, and top prizes at the North Shore, West Auckland, South Auckland, Te Awamutu, Hamilton, Tauranga, APMA, and IRMT competitions. He previously studied piano with Able Zhu and Jenny Jung, attaining ATCL and LTCL diplomas with distinction.
Tony has performed in masterclasses for distinguished pianists including Douglas Humphreys, Alexander Kobrin, Boris Slutsky, Pavel Nersessian, Pascal Nemirovski, John Perry, Anton Nel, Jean Saulnier, Edith Fischer, Pierre Reach, Juan Lago, and Songwen Li. He has appeared as a concerto soloist with the Macleans College Orchestra, performing Tchaikovsky’s first concerto, and the Aotea Youth Symphony, performing Mozart Piano Concerto No. 23.
Recent highlights include solo recitals at the Lewis Eady Showroom in Auckland, and at the Tiromoana Summer Series in Gisborne in support of the Gisborne International Music Festival, at the invitation of arts patron Professor Jack Richards. Upcoming engagements include return appearances at the Lewis Eady Showroom and Tiromoana, as well as concertos with the Bach Musica, Wairua Sinfonietta, and Waikato Trust Symphony.
During his summer, he recently studied and performed at the Orford Music Academy in Canada where he gave several performances around the townships of Quebec, and the Valencia International Piano Academy in Spain where he was invited to perform in the city’s cultural centre twice. He looks forward to returning to the Blonay International Piano Academy in Switzerland next week, before beginning his sophomore year at Eastman.