CHE-YEN CHEN  Viola  

Described by The Strad magazine as a musician whose “tonal distinction and essential musicality produced an auspicious impression”, Taiwanese-American violist Che-Yen Chen (also known as "Brian Chen") has established himself as a prominent recitalist, chamber, and orchestral musician. He is the first-prize winner of the 2003 William Primrose International Viola Competition, and the "President Prize" of the 2003 Lionel Tertis Viola Competition. In 2011 Mr. Chen was invited to serve on the jury of the 13^th Primrose International Viola Competition. Currently the principal violist of the San Diego Symphony, Mr. Chen has appeared as guest principal violist with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, San Francisco Symphony, and Cincinnati Symphony Orchestras.

A founding member of the Formosa Quartet, the First Prize and the Amadeus Prize winner of the 10^th London International String Quartet Competition, Mr. Chen is an advocate of chamber music. He is also currently a member of San Diego-based Myriad Trio, Camera Lucida, a former member of Lincoln Center Chamber Music Society Two, and has toured with Musicians from Marlboro after three consecutive summers at the Marlboro Music Festival. Other chamber festival appearances include the Kingston Chamber Music Festival, Ravinia, Mainly Mozart, Chamber Music International, La Jolla Summerfest, Seattle Chamber Music Society and Taiwan Connection.

As an educator, Mr. Chen has taught and performed in programs such as National Youth Orchestra Canada, Interlochen, Mimir Festival, and has given master classes at the Taiwan National Arts University, University of Missouri Kansas City, University of Southern California, UC Santa Barbara and The Juilliard School. He has  previously served on faculty for Indiana University South Bend, UC San Diego, San Diego State University, and McGill University. Specializing in string quartet genre, Mr. Chen has taught young esteemed string quartets who have participated in the London International String Quartet Competition and others who have won the Banff International String Quartet Competition. Mr. Chen’s students have also won national orchestral auditions. Currently Mr. Chen teaches at Cal State University, Fullerton.
  
A young four-time winner of the National Viola Competition in Taiwan, Mr. Chen began his viola studies at the age of six with Ben Lin. He continued his studies in the U.S. at The Curtis Institute of Music and The Juilliard School under the guidance of Michael Tree, Joseph de Pasquale, Karen Tuttle and Paul Neubauer.