The 23-year-old pianist Yanjun Chen fell in love with the piano very quickly when she started playing at the age of five, largely influenced by her father, a singer.
Though her choice to pursue music was a gradual one, she knew from the start: “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.”
At 23, she brings a distinctive blend of sensitivity, clarity, and artistic maturity to the stage — qualities that have been recognized at major competitions and in concert halls across Europe, North America, Asia, and beyond.
Her recent appearance at the 2025 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition and her win at the International Piano Competition Santa Cecilia have brought her wider recognition. Gramophone described her as “a Haydn stylist with heft and genuine communication,” while the Dallas Morning News noted her “confidence and fine fingerwork.” YourClassical praised her “beautifully shaped lines, an array of varying articulation, and tons of playfulness.”
In a feature by CBS News, Yanjun was recognized not only for her artistry, but also for the warmth and sincerity she brings to her performances. The piece highlighted her ability to connect with audiences on a personal level, combining musical precision with a sense of generosity and authenticity on stage.
She has appeared as a soloist with the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra under Carlos Miguel Prieto, the Portuguese Philharmonic Orchestra, the Salzburg Chamber Soloists, the Orquestra Sinfónica Portuguesa, and the Mainz State Orchestra, among others. Her performances have taken her to major venues including Bass Performance Hall and Van Cliburn Concert Hall in Texas, Casa da Música in Porto, and Salle Cortot in Paris. Festival engagements include Morningside Music Bridge, the Mozarteum Summer Academy, Chamber Lab, Wasserburger Sommerakademie, and Prussia Cove.
Since 2024, Yanjun has been a Villa Musica scholarship recipient, recognized for her work as both a soloist and chamber musician.
Outside of classical music, she also explores other genres as a pop singer, collaborating with Dieter Dierks and guitarist Uli Jon Roth (both from the rock band Scorpions), further expanding her creative voice.
Yanjun has been studying with Prof. Arie Vardi at the University of Music, Drama and Media Hannover since 2019.
