Pianist Tony Yan Tong Chen at the Wakatipu Music Festival. Photo: Sheena Haywood
Many years ago, Tony Yan Tong Chen remembers sitting near the back of the second violins making music with the Auckland Youth Orchestra.
Now the US-based musician is back home with the same band, only this time he's out the front playing the piano.
Chen is joining the orchestra to perform Tchaikovsky's much loved First Piano Concerto later this month.
Auckland Youth Orchestra. Last time Tony Yan Ton Chen played with them he was near the back. This time he'll be right out in front. Photo: Supplied / Auckland Youth Orchestra
He joined RNZ Concert host Bryan Crump to talk about his studies (he's just gained a Masters in music performance at the Cleveland Institute of Music in the USA), his future plans, and why the piano won out when Chen showed promise with many other instruments: from the violin and viola to the trumpet.
The answer to the last question probably boils down to the piano's versatility. Chen loves the orchestral repertoire, but if you're a violinist or a trumpeter you need to be in an orchestra to achieve that sound. The piano, on the other hand, can take on orchestral-like numbers on its own.
After his concerts back in New Zealand, Chen will return to the US to pursue further study at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music in a two year Artist Diploma Programme. But he'll be back in Aotearoa this August for a recital hosted by the Waikanae Music Society.
