Ray Chen, violin, with Julio Elizalde, piano

“Colors dance, moods swing, and Chen’s artistry blazes.” (The Times) 

“Ray Chen can do pretty much anything he wants on the violin.” (The Washington Post)

Born in Taiwan and raised in Australia, Ray Chen was accepted to the Curtis Institute of Music at age 15 and captured the world’s attention as First Prize winner of both the Yehudi Menuhin and Queen Elizabeth Competitions. Profiled as “one to watch” by The Strad and Gramophone magazines, his profile has grown to be featured in the Forbes list of 30 most influential Asians under 30, and appearances in the TV series Mozart in the Jungle. He plays the 1715 “Joachim” Stradivarius violin, once owned by the famed Hungarian violinist, Joseph Joachim. 

Praised as a musician of "compelling artistry and power" by the Seattle Times, the gifted American pianist Julio Elizalde has appeared with many of the leading artists of our time. He tours internationally with world-renowned violinists Sarah Chang and Ray Chen, and has performed alongside conductors Itzhak Perlman, Teddy Abrams, and Anne Manson. He has collaborated with artists such as violinist Pamela Frank, composers Osvaldo Golijov and Stephen Hough, baritone William Sharp, and members of the Juilliard, Cleveland, Kronos, and Brentano string quartets. He is also Artistic Director of the Olympic Music Festival near Seattle, Washington.  

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