About
“My goal is to create memorable moments that inspire and connect us all, proving that classical music still has a place in our fast-paced world. By sharing personal anecdotes about the pieces or insights into the composers' lives, I hope to create a more intimate experience. I want the audience to feel like they’re part of something special.”
Yanjun Chen fell in love with the piano very quickly when she started playing at the age of 5—largely influenced by her father, a singer, though her choice to pursue music was a gradual one: “I knew it wouldn't be an easy path, but I felt a pull to embrace it. What I strive for is to connect with listeners through my interpretations, sharing a bit of my story with every piece I play.” She enrolled in the Xinghai Conservatory of Music Affiliated Secondary School of Music under Jay Sun and went on to the Hochschule für Musik, Theater und Medien Hannover, where she’s studied with Arie Vardi since 2019.
Recent winner of the International Piano Competition Santa Cecilia (Portugal), Yanjun has performed with distinguished orchestras, including the Salzburg Chamber Soloists, Portuguese Philharmonic Orchestra, and Orquestra Sinfónica Portuguesa, and at prominent venues such as Casa Da Musica and Teatro Municipal da Guarda in Portugal, and Salle Cortot in Paris. Festival participation has included the Morningside Music Bridge (Boston), Warsaw, Wasserburger Sommerakademie (Germany), International Summer Academy at the Mozarteum (Austria), “Chamber Lab” (Italy), “International Musicians Seminar” (Prussia Cove), and “Live Music Now” (United Kingdom). In winter 2024, she was selected as a scholar of the Villa Musica Academy.
Seeking a rich and varied musical life, she is also active in her trio, Trio Piazenca, and is a pop singer, currently working on recordings with producer Dieter Dierks and guitarist Uli John Roth (both of the rock band Scorpions). “My inspiration is fueled by a rich mix of music, the beauty of nature, the narratives of people around me, and various art forms. Each of these elements plays a vital role in shaping who I am as both an artist and an individual.”