Junyan Chen

Junyan Chen loves to explore cultural identities through music, is inspired by female composers and particularly enjoys performing contemporary music. Her wide interests reflect her impressive talent. At the Leeds International Piano Competition in 2024, she not only won Second Prize but was also presented with the Chamber Music Prize and the Alexandra Dariescu Award. Hosted by Heinersdorff, this talented newcomer will perform a variety of pieces as she searches for a deep connection with each composer and the eras and places they represent. Works by François Couperin can be heard alongside Ravel’s musical tribute to his baroque fellow countryman. Music by Olivier Messiaen and Ravel’s famous ‘La Valse’ are testimony to the wide range of French compositions for solo piano. Junyan even adds a transatlantic cultural experience to this musical journey with the ‘Variations on Balkan Themes’ by American pianist and composer Amy Beach.