Chih-Yuan Chen
Clarinetist and saxophonist moves fluently between classical and jazz. He studied under Professor Tsu-Hsin Lin at the Department of Music, National Taiwan University of Arts, and is currently pursuing a master’s degree at the Graduate Institute of Music, National Taiwan Normal University with Professor Wei-Te Sung. Beginning clarinet in high school, he trained with Kuo-Wei Chang, Pei-Yun Lin, and Chien-Ming Chen, among others.
During his military service, Chen served as principal clarinet of a regional military band. While studying, he won prizes in national music competitions and performed at major venues including the National Concert Hall and National Recital Hall.
He is a member of the Buddy Clarinet Ensemble, a board member of the Ruifang Arts & Culture Association, and leader of the Friday Quintet. With these ensembles, he has appeared at venues such as Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, the National Palace Museum, Taipei City Hall, and Nangang Exhibition Center. In 2023, he was invited to perform at the Sakai Blues Festival in Osaka, Japan, and delivered music-travel lectures at Feng Chia University, National Changhua University of Education, National Defense University, and NTUA, sharing insights on jazz improvisation and stage performance. That same year, he was featured in a Volkswagen interview.
In April 2024, Chen created and produced Musical Dialogues of the Jazz (Dance) Ensemble, a cross-genre program uniting jazz musicians and dancers. Supported by the New Taipei City Cultural Affairs Department, it premiered at the New Taipei Arts Center to strong acclaim.
In July 2024, he won the soloist audition at the Evergreen Symphony Music Camp and collaborated with conductor Wen-Chen Chuang and the camp orchestra at the Taipei National University of the Arts Concert Hall, performing Artie Shaw’s Clarinet Concerto. His nuanced interpretation, infused with jazz expression, captivated the audience.
In 2025, Chen was selected to join the Taipei All-Star Festival Jazz Orchestra and performed at the Taipei Jazz Festival at the Outdoor Plaza of the Taipei Music Center. This performance gathered some of Taiwan’s finest jazz musicians, presenting a vibrant, multi-layered sound. Through this collaboration, he not only showcased his virtuosity but also expanded his artistic vision by engaging with outstanding musicians across the jazz community.
- Volkswagen feature — Jazz Musician Car Owner feature
- Feng Chia University — “Music Backpacker: Traveling with Instruments”
- National Changhua University of Education “Music Travel”, National Defense University, National Taiwan University of Arts, and more
