Leland Chen, Violinist

Since winning first prize in the Yehudi Menuhin International Violin Competition Leland Chen has distinguished himself as an exciting presence in the musical world. Audiences everywhere are unanimous in praising his technical mastery of the violin and musical depth. In his book 'Great masters of the Violin' Boris Schwartz wrote: "What made his performance so impressive was his musical versatility: he seemed to master every style from Bach to Bartok and at the end dazzled the listeners with Vieuxtemps' Fifth Concerto. Chen's technique is impeccable, his tone warm and sensuous his musicianship serious and probing. Chen is a major talent destined for an international career."

Following his competition success Leland Chen made his London debut with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra at the Royal Festival Hall and since that time has appeared on many occasions as soloist with the Philharmonia, London Philharmonic and London Symphony Orchestras and toured North America with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. He has toured Poland with the Polish Chamber Orchestra and Germany with the Warsaw Sinfonia and has also performed in Europe with the Chamber Orchestra of Europe and Netherlands Philharmonic.

At the age of 9, Leland left his native Taiwan in order to take up a scholarship offered him by the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. Winning the American Bicentennial Scholarship enabled him to study at the Yehudi Menuhin School in the UK, then the Menuhin Academy in Gstaad, Switzerland, where his teachers were Robert Masters and Lord Menuhin. Following the enormous success of his New York debut he gave a recital tour of over sixty cities in the USA. He has appeared at many European festivals including Gstaad and Schleswig-Holstein. Leland is also in demand as a teacher and is on the faculty of the Royal Northern College of Music.

TV and Radio appearances include performances broadcast live on Radio 3 and Radio 2, a performance of Vivaldi's Four Seasons telecast throughout North America by CBS and his contribution to a gala concert in Monte Carlo broadcast throughout Europe by Eurovision.