“The grand gesture, whether of gorgeously full tone or daring velocity, seems to be at the heart of Chen’s approach to romantic repertoire. The eagerness with which he launched himself into the most daunting of challenges suggests a fiery temperament, and the necessary elements of technique are there to support it.” -Michael Dervan, Irish Times First Prize winner of the Bradshaw & Buono International Piano Competition, American pianist Archie Chen is a charismatic and commanding performer of solo and chamber music repertoire and is noted for his warm, varied tone and his unusual and compelling interpretations. Beginning his piano studies at the age of six, Archie made his first concerto appearance at the age of 11. Since then Mr. Chen’s performance schedule has taken him around the world to venues including the Gewandhaus, the Vatican Auditorium (in performance for the late Pope John Paul II), Liszt’s House in Weimar, Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Seattle’s Benaroya Hall, and various concert halls in China, in addition to recording for both live radio and television. Recent concerto performances have included the Festival at Sandpoint with conductor Gary Sheldon, collaborations with trumpeters John Wallace (Scotland) and Allen Vizzuti (US), and an appearance with the principal conductor of the English Chamber Orchestra, Ralph Gothoni. Most recently the artist had the honor of recording the soundtrack (including many virtuoso works by Godowsky, Liszt, Chopin and Rachmaninov) for BBC Films’ “Loving Miss Hatto,” a movie about the pianist Joyce Hatto, which will be released in December. Archie Chen is a graduate of Indiana University, where he was a student of Edmund Battersby and Menahem Pressler and received his Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees. Among his many scholarships and awards at Indiana University were the Nina Neal Piano Scholarship and the prestigious Performer’s Certificate, the school’s highest honor. Other teachers and mentors have included Alicia De Laroccha and Leonard Hokanson. Mr. Chen is currently in the final stage of a Doctorate in Piano Performance with John O’ Conor. Mr. Chen enjoys a busy teaching career and has held positions as Assistant Professor of Piano at the Royal Irish Academy of Music and the Dublin Conservatory of Music & Drama. He currently serves as Assistant Professor for Harbor Music (Artur Balsam Chamber Music Project) and at the Piano Academy of Ireland. For more information please visit http://www.archiechen.com