Stella Chen

Praised for her “silken grace” and “brilliant command” (The Strad), American violinist Stella Chen first gained international recognition as the winner of the 2019 Queen Elizabeth International Violin Competition. Her critically acclaimed debut album Stella x Schubert, released in 2023 on Apple Music’s Platoon label, earned her the Young Artist of the Year title at the Gramophone Awards.

Chen has performed across North America, Europe, and Asia in concerto, recital, and chamber music settings. She recently made debuts with the New York Philharmonic, Chicago Symphony, Minnesota Orchestra, Israel Philharmonic, Chamber Orchestra of Europe, and the Orchestra of St. Luke's. Her performances have taken her to some of the world’s most iconic venues, including the Vienna Musikverein, Concertgebouw Amsterdam, and Berlin Philharmonie. She appears frequently with the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, both in New York and on tour.

Highlights of Chen's 2025–26 season include concerto debuts with the Vancouver Symphony, Cincinnati Symphony, and Antwerp Symphony orchestras, and an American tour with the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, including a performance at Carnegie Hall. She appears in recital and chamber music performances at La Jolla Music Society, Chamber Music San Francisco, and leads a residency at San Francisco Conservatory.

A dedicated chamber musician, Chen has been featured at festivals including the Kronberg Academy, Moritzburg Festival, Ravinia, Seattle Chamber Music Society, Perlman Music Program, Music@Menlo, Bridgehampton, Rockport, and Sarasota Music Festival, where she returned as faculty in 2025.

Chen is the inaugural recipient of the Robert Levin Award from Harvard University, where she was mentored and inspired by Robert Levin. Her teachers and mentors have included Donald Weilerstein, Itzhak Perlman, Miriam Fried, Li Lin, and Catherine Cho. She received her doctorate from the Juilliard School, where she was recently appointed to the College and Pre-College Division Faculty. She also serves as Visiting Assistant Professor at the Shenandoah Conservatory and is on the faculty of the Nume Festival and Academy in Cortona, Italy.

Chen performs on the "General Kyd" 1720 Stradivarius, generously on loan from Dr. Ryuji Ueno and Rare Violins In Consortium, Artists and Benefactors Collaborative.