Phyllis Chen, piano/toy piano
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About
Praised by the New York Times for her “delightful quirkiness matched with interpretive sensitivity,” Phyllis Chen has become a trailblazer in performing original multimedia compositions using toy pianos, electronics and video and works by prominent contemporary composers. Her artistic pursuits take her in numerous directions as a toy pianist, pianist, composer and performance artist, leading to her selection as a New Music/New Places Fellow at the 2007 Concert Artist Guild International Competition.
Recently, Phyllis was the featured solo musician for the world premiere of Stephin Merritt’s Off-Broadway production, Coraline in May 2009 at the Lucille Lortel Theater in New York City. In this unique on-stage performance, Phyllis was praised as “impressive” (New York Times, June 2009) for her work as a multi-keyboardist, big and small. Other recent premieres include a commissioned work by American composer/percussionist Nathan Davis for toy piano and clock chimes premiered at Symphony Space as part of the Concert Artist Guild New Music/New Places Series.
Highlights for this upcoming season include tours through the US and Europe with the brilliant German-based cellist, Johannes Moser, where the duo will explore new works for piano, toy piano, cello, electric cello and music boxes. This Fall, Phyllis will be making her toy piano premiere at several world music festivals, including the Chicago World Music Festival and Lotus World Music Festival. She will also be making appearances at the distinguished Gilmore International Keyboard Festival and the Look & Listen Festival in the Spring.
As an avid toy pianist, Phyllis founded the UnCaged Toy Piano, a composition competition to further expand the repertoire for toy piano and electronics. The competition has received works from composers all around the world and these compositions become an integral part of her repertoire. A strong interest in interdisciplinary work led her to collaborations with video artist and electronic musician Rob Dietz with whom she created multimedia works such as The Memoirist, Pearlessence, Chroma and Carousel.
Lauded for playing Beethoven 1st Concerto “with amazing grace, with enviable clarity, and with finger work of both strength and elasticity” (The Herald Times, IN), Ms. Chen’s traditional piano credits include honors at the International Bartok/Kabalevsky Piano and the Coleman Chamber Music Competition. Her victory at the Marjorie Barnett Competition of Chicago included a special Bach Prize for her performance of the Goldberg Variations, and as a result, Phyllis was invited to perform at Chicago Symphony Center’s Buntrock Hall. She also performed on the Dame Myra Hess Series at the Chicago Cultural Center, aired live on WFMT Public Radio.
Phyllis is a member of ICE (International Contemporary Ensemble), a Chicago and New York-based collective dedicated to the performance and promotion of new works. She has traveled to the west coast, England, Russia and Mexico with the ensemble.
Phyllis attended Oberlin Conservatory as a recipient of the Dean’s Talent Award Scholarship and received a Masters Degree from Northwestern University as an Eckstein Merit Scholar. She is continuing to pursue her DMA in piano performance at Indiana University where she studied with André Watts. Phyllis currently resides in Astoria, New York.
Artist Website
Recently, Phyllis was the featured solo musician for the world premiere of Stephin Merritt’s Off-Broadway production, Coraline in May 2009 at the Lucille Lortel Theater in New York City. In this unique on-stage performance, Phyllis was praised as “impressive” (New York Times, June 2009) for her work as a multi-keyboardist, big and small. Other recent premieres include a commissioned work by American composer/percussionist Nathan Davis for toy piano and clock chimes premiered at Symphony Space as part of the Concert Artist Guild New Music/New Places Series.
Highlights for this upcoming season include tours through the US and Europe with the brilliant German-based cellist, Johannes Moser, where the duo will explore new works for piano, toy piano, cello, electric cello and music boxes. This Fall, Phyllis will be making her toy piano premiere at several world music festivals, including the Chicago World Music Festival and Lotus World Music Festival. She will also be making appearances at the distinguished Gilmore International Keyboard Festival and the Look & Listen Festival in the Spring.
As an avid toy pianist, Phyllis founded the UnCaged Toy Piano, a composition competition to further expand the repertoire for toy piano and electronics. The competition has received works from composers all around the world and these compositions become an integral part of her repertoire. A strong interest in interdisciplinary work led her to collaborations with video artist and electronic musician Rob Dietz with whom she created multimedia works such as The Memoirist, Pearlessence, Chroma and Carousel.
Lauded for playing Beethoven 1st Concerto “with amazing grace, with enviable clarity, and with finger work of both strength and elasticity” (The Herald Times, IN), Ms. Chen’s traditional piano credits include honors at the International Bartok/Kabalevsky Piano and the Coleman Chamber Music Competition. Her victory at the Marjorie Barnett Competition of Chicago included a special Bach Prize for her performance of the Goldberg Variations, and as a result, Phyllis was invited to perform at Chicago Symphony Center’s Buntrock Hall. She also performed on the Dame Myra Hess Series at the Chicago Cultural Center, aired live on WFMT Public Radio.
Phyllis is a member of ICE (International Contemporary Ensemble), a Chicago and New York-based collective dedicated to the performance and promotion of new works. She has traveled to the west coast, England, Russia and Mexico with the ensemble.
Phyllis attended Oberlin Conservatory as a recipient of the Dean’s Talent Award Scholarship and received a Masters Degree from Northwestern University as an Eckstein Merit Scholar. She is continuing to pursue her DMA in piano performance at Indiana University where she studied with André Watts. Phyllis currently resides in Astoria, New York.