Tong Chen

Violinist Tong Chen hails from Shanghai and is an avid soloist, chamber and orchestral musician. Tong has been invited to compete internationally in competitions and placed favorably including Hong Kong International Violin Competition (2nd prize), Vancouver International Music Competition (3rd prize), Ysaye International Violin competition (finalist) and the Queen Elisabeth International Violin Competition. Tong has also participated in numerous music festivals including Verbier Music Festival, Festival de Granada, Bowdoin International Music Festival, Four Seasons Chamber Music Winter Workshop, International Musicians Seminar- Prussia Cove, Norfolk Chamber Music Festival and The Chamber Music Workshop at Perlman Music Program.

As a passionate chamber musician, Tong was coached by the members of Borromeo String Quartet, Juilliard String Quartet, Brentano String Quartet, Merry Peckham, John Heiss, and Saeunn Thorsteinsdottir. Tong also has treasured the privilege of sharing stages with Ida Kavafian, Colin Carr, Melvin Chen, Areta Zhulla, Vivian Hornik Weilerstein, and Paul Biss.

Chen has received Bachelor, Master of Music degrees, and Graduate Diploma from the New England Conservatory under Miriam Fried, Paul Biss and Donald Weilerstein. He is also influenced by many important mentors including Mark Steinberg and Itzhak Perlman.

Currently, he pursues his Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) Degree in Stony Brook University(SUNY) under the tutelage of Philip Setzer and Jennifer Frautschi.