Youth Orchestra
Eric Chen
Eric Chen, age 15, is rising sophomore at Marquette High School in St. Louis, Missouri. Eric started learning violin at age 6 with Joseph Kaminsky, and is currently a student of Pavel Ilyashov.
Eric’s top awards include winner of MTNA Junior String State Competition for 3 consecutive years 2021-2023, National Finalist at the 2020-2021 MTNA Junior String Competition, winner of the 2023 Artist Presentation Society competition, winner of the 2022 Town and Country Symphony Orchestra Rising Talents Young Artists Concerto Competition, First Place runner-up of the 2022 Alton Symphony Orchestra Marie Stillwell Young Artists’ Competition, 1st prize winner of the 2021 Master of Violin Concerto Great Composers Competition, and winner of the 2020 Belleville Philharmonic Orchestra “Stars of Tomorrow” concerto competition.
Eric is in his 3rd season with the St Louis Symphony Youth Orchestra. Prior to this, Eric was selected by the Metropolitan Orchestra of St. Louis to partake in their “Share the Stand” program to play alongside professional musicians, which he participated in for 3 years.
Eric has had the honor to have masterclasses with many renowned violinists including Miriam Fried, Grigory Kalinovsky, Wen Qian, Movses Pogossian, Paul Biss, Jennifer Frautschi, Hye-Jin Kim, and Timothy Lees. This summer, Eric will be attending the Bowdoin International Music Festival under the coach of Mikhail Kopelman.
This year, Eric serves as the regional director of the Back to Bach Project, directing the St. Louis region. Eric has hosted several events in local public schools as well as in video format to contribute to the nationwide program.
Outside the concert hall, Eric loves playing tennis and spending time with his little brother and his friends.
