Jiafeng Chen
Encyclopedia
Chen Jiafeng , born in Shanghai, is a Chinese violin
ist. He started to play the violin at the age of 3 and gave his first concert at 8.
In 2004 he moved to England to study at Chetham's School of Music
in Manchester
, and soon after was awarded from the Hattori Foundation and the Manoug Parikian Prize at the Musicians’ Benevolent Fund String Awards in London. This led to an invitation to give his Wigmore Hall
debut in December 2005.
He has recently had masterclasses with Burkhard Godhoff, Eduard Grach, Tuomas Haapanen, Piotr Janowski
, Herman Krebbers, Pierre Amoyal
, Itzhak Perlman
and Ruggiero Ricci
.
Alongside his developing concert career, he is currently continuing his studies from September 2006 with Prof. Jan Repko at the Royal College of Music
in London. He holds the Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother Scholarship.
in Helsinki
. This led to accolades from the Finnish press and from such distinguished figures as Pierre Amoyal, Herman Krebbers
and Tuomas Haapanen. It also led to engagements with the Tapiola Sinfonietta and Paavo Berglund
, with the Vaasa City Orchestra, and a recital in Hämeenlinna
, as well as invitations to perform in Germany, the Netherlands, Italy, UK and South Africa.
Jiafeng won 1st Prize at the 9th Wieniawski International Violin Competition in Poland, with further prizes from the European Union Music Competition and the Fryderyk Chopin Academy of Music, and 2nd Prize at the 13th Menuhin International Violin Competition in Cardiff
.
; the Lake District
Music Festival, and the Shanghai ‘Spring’ International Music Festival. Jiafeng has had numerous concerts throughout the world. He has performed as soloist with many eminent orchestras and conductors, including the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra, Shanghai Opera Symphony Orchestra, Halle Orchestra (Rory Macdonald
), Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra
(Petri Sakari), Tapiola Sinfonietta (Paavo Berglund
) and the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra
(John Storgards).
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
ist. He started to play the violin at the age of 3 and gave his first concert at 8.
Biography
Born in Shanghai in 1987, Jiafeng Chen started to play the violin at the age of three. He studied with Prof. Peter Shixiang Zhang at the age of four. From 1996 to 2004, he studied with Prof. Jiyang Zhao and Prof. Lei Fang in the Music School affiliated to Shanghai Conservatory of Music. During these years, he was awarded numerous scholarships. In 2002, he gave solo performances across the country of U.S.A.In 2004 he moved to England to study at Chetham's School of Music
Chetham's School of Music
Chetham's School of Music , familiarly known as "Chets", is a specialist independent co-educational music school, situated in Manchester city centre, in North West England. It was established in 1969, incorporating Chetham's Hospital School, founded as a charity school by Humphrey Chetham in 1653...
in Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
, and soon after was awarded from the Hattori Foundation and the Manoug Parikian Prize at the Musicians’ Benevolent Fund String Awards in London. This led to an invitation to give his Wigmore Hall
Wigmore Hall
Wigmore Hall is a leading international recital venue that specialises in hosting performances of chamber music and is best known for classical recitals of piano, song and instrumental music. It is located at 36 Wigmore Street, London, UK and was built to provide London with a venue that was both...
debut in December 2005.
He has recently had masterclasses with Burkhard Godhoff, Eduard Grach, Tuomas Haapanen, Piotr Janowski
Piotr Janowski
Piotr Janowski was a Polish violinist, first Polish winner of the Henryk Wieniawski Violin Competition.Janowski was born in Grudziądz, Poland. In 1967, at the age of 16, he won the V International Henryk Wieniawski Violin Competition in Poznań, Poland...
, Herman Krebbers, Pierre Amoyal
Pierre Amoyal
Pierre Amoyal , is a French violinist. He studied at the Conservatoire de Paris, graduating at age 12 with a First Prize . He then won the Ginette Neveu Prize in 1963, and the Paganini Prize in 1964. At age 17, he traveled to Los Angeles for five years of study with Jascha Heifetz, which...
, Itzhak Perlman
Itzhak Perlman
Itzhak Perlman is an Israeli-born violinist, conductor, and instructor of master classes. He is regarded as one of the pre-eminent violinists of the 20th and early-21st centuries.-Early life:...
and Ruggiero Ricci
Ruggiero Ricci
Ruggiero Ricci is an Italian-American violinist known for performances and recordings of the works of Paganini. He was born in San Bruno, California. Ricci's brother was cellist and his sister Emma played violin with the New York Metropolitan Opera.He is the son of Italian immigrants. His...
.
Alongside his developing concert career, he is currently continuing his studies from September 2006 with Prof. Jan Repko at the Royal College of Music
Royal College of Music
The Royal College of Music is a conservatoire founded by Royal Charter in 1882, located in South Kensington, London, England.-Background:The first director was Sir George Grove and he was followed by Sir Hubert Parry...
in London. He holds the Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother Scholarship.
- 1990 - 1995 with Prof. Shixiang-Peter Zhang (Chinese: 张世祥)
- 1996 - 1999 the Music primary School affiliated to Shanghai Conservatory of MusicShanghai Conservatory of MusicThe Shanghai Conservatory of Music , as the first music institution of higher education in China, was founded on November 27, 1927. The teachers and students have won numerous awards both home and abroad, thus earning the conservatory the name, “the cradle of musicians”.-History:The Shanghai...
with Prof. Jiyang Zhao (Chinese: 赵基阳） - 1999 - 2004 the Music Middle School affiliated to Shanghai Conservatory of MusicShanghai Conservatory of MusicThe Shanghai Conservatory of Music , as the first music institution of higher education in China, was founded on November 27, 1927. The teachers and students have won numerous awards both home and abroad, thus earning the conservatory the name, “the cradle of musicians”.-History:The Shanghai...
with Prof. Lei Fang (Chinese: 方蕾) - 2004 - 2006 Chetham's School of MusicChetham's School of MusicChetham's School of Music , familiarly known as "Chets", is a specialist independent co-educational music school, situated in Manchester city centre, in North West England. It was established in 1969, incorporating Chetham's Hospital School, founded as a charity school by Humphrey Chetham in 1653...
, Manchester (Prof. Jan Repko) - 2006–present the Royal College of MusicRoyal College of MusicThe Royal College of Music is a conservatoire founded by Royal Charter in 1882, located in South Kensington, London, England.-Background:The first director was Sir George Grove and he was followed by Sir Hubert Parry...
, London (Prof. Jan Repko)
Prizes
In December 2005, aged 18, Jiafeng Chen won 2nd Prize in the prestigious International Jean Sibelius Violin CompetitionInternational Jean Sibelius Violin Competition
The International Jean Sibelius Violin Competition, named after Finnish composer Jean Sibelius, is a competition for violinists up to age 30. It is held every five years in Helsinki and is considered to be one of the top 3 most appreciated violin competitions in the world. The first competition...
in Helsinki
Helsinki
Helsinki is the capital and largest city in Finland. It is in the region of Uusimaa, located in southern Finland, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, an arm of the Baltic Sea. The population of the city of Helsinki is , making it by far the most populous municipality in Finland. Helsinki is...
. This led to accolades from the Finnish press and from such distinguished figures as Pierre Amoyal, Herman Krebbers
Herman Krebbers
Herman Krebbers is a Dutch violinist.Born in Hengelo, Overijssel, Krebbers studied in Amsterdam with Oskar Back. In 1943, the 19 year-old violinist debuted with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra and eventually became the Orchestra's Concertmaster in 1962.In parallel he led a shining career as a...
and Tuomas Haapanen. It also led to engagements with the Tapiola Sinfonietta and Paavo Berglund
Paavo Berglund
Paavo Allan Engelbert Berglund is a Finnish conductor.Born in Helsinki, Berglund studied the violin as a child, and played an instrument made by his grandfather. By age 15, he had decided on music as his career, and by 18 was playing in restaurants...
, with the Vaasa City Orchestra, and a recital in Hämeenlinna
Hämeenlinna
Hämeenlinna is a city and municipality of about inhabitants in the heart of the historical province of Häme in the south of Finland and is the birthplace of composer Jean Sibelius. Today, it belongs to the region of Tavastia Proper, and until 2010 it was the residence city for the Governor of the...
, as well as invitations to perform in Germany, the Netherlands, Italy, UK and South Africa.
Jiafeng won 1st Prize at the 9th Wieniawski International Violin Competition in Poland, with further prizes from the European Union Music Competition and the Fryderyk Chopin Academy of Music, and 2nd Prize at the 13th Menuhin International Violin Competition in Cardiff
Cardiff
Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
.
- 1995 2nd prize, Shanghai "Yi-Fu" Cup (Chinese: 逸夫杯) Violin Competition
- 2001 2nd prize, the 7th National Youth Violin competition, China
- 2003 1st prize, the 9th International Wieniawski Violin Competition with further prizes from the European UnionEuropean UnionThe European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
Music Competition and the Fryderyk Chopin Academy of Music, Poland
- 2004 3rd prize, the 4th International NovosibirskNovosibirskNovosibirsk is the third-largest city in Russia, after Moscow and Saint Petersburg, and the largest city of Siberia, with a population of 1,473,737 . It is the administrative center of Novosibirsk Oblast as well as of the Siberian Federal District...
Youth Violin Competition, Russia
- 2004 Manoug Parikian Award, Musicians Benevolent Fund String Award 2004, UK.
- 2005 Winner, Concerto Competition at Chetham's School of Music
- 2005 Runner-up & the Most Promising under 18 Quartet, the National Youth String Quartet Competition, UK.
- 2005 2nd prize, the 9th International Jean Sibelius Violin Competition, Finland
- 2006 Junior Award, Hattori Foundation 2006, UK.
- 2006 Education Award, Musicians Benevolent Fund String Award 2006, UK.
- 2007 Senior Award, Hattori Foundation 2007, UK
- 2008 2nd Prize, the 13th Menuhin International Violin Competition for Youth, Cardiff, UK
Festivals and concerts
He has participated in numerous music festivals and seasons including the BBC Proms cycle of 2006 as a soloist when his recital was broadcast on BBC radio 3BBC Radio 3
BBC Radio 3 is a national radio station operated by the BBC within the United Kingdom. Its output centres on classical music and opera, but jazz, world music, drama, culture and the arts also feature. The station is the world’s most significant commissioner of new music, and its New Generation...
; the Lake District
Lake District
The Lake District, also commonly known as The Lakes or Lakeland, is a mountainous region in North West England. A popular holiday destination, it is famous not only for its lakes and its mountains but also for its associations with the early 19th century poetry and writings of William Wordsworth...
Music Festival, and the Shanghai ‘Spring’ International Music Festival. Jiafeng has had numerous concerts throughout the world. He has performed as soloist with many eminent orchestras and conductors, including the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra, Shanghai Opera Symphony Orchestra, Halle Orchestra (Rory Macdonald
Rory MacDonald
Roderick Macdonald is the bassist of the Scottish Celtic rock band Runrig, as well as their primary songwriter with his younger brother, Calum Macdonald. Rory tends to write the melody, and Calum the lyrics...
), Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra
Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra
The Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra is a Finnish orchestra based in Helsinki, and is the chief radio orchestra of the Finnish Broadcasting Company . The orchestra primarily gives concerts at the Helsinki Music Centre...
(Petri Sakari), Tapiola Sinfonietta (Paavo Berglund
Paavo Berglund
Paavo Allan Engelbert Berglund is a Finnish conductor.Born in Helsinki, Berglund studied the violin as a child, and played an instrument made by his grandfather. By age 15, he had decided on music as his career, and by 18 was playing in restaurants...
) and the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra
Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra
The Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra is an orchestra based in Helsinki, Finland...
(John Storgards).