Chih-Yuan Chen｜Clarinet / Saxophone Performer & Cross-disciplinary Creator

Artist Bio

Chih-Yuan Chen, a 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. 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. 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 was selected as a soloist at the Evergreen Symphony Orchestra Music Camp — the sole candidate chosen among all applicants — and performed Artie Shaw's Clarinet Concerto with conductor Wen-Chen Chuang and the Evergreen Symphony Orchestra at the Taipei National University of the Arts Concert Hall. His refined interpretation, distinctive character, and jazz-infused tone captivated the audience.

In 2025, Chen joined the Taipei All-Star Festival Jazz Orchestra and performed at the Taipei Jazz Festival at the Taipei Music Center. He also won Third Prize in the Taichung Music Festival Saxophone Competition.

Gear & Endorsements

The Instruments and Setups Behind the Sound

Clarinet

Instrument: Buffet Crampon "Tosca"
Mouthpiece: Vandoren BD4
Ligature: Nymph MITO Extreme
Reeds: Légère European Cut (3.5)

Alto Saxophone

Instrument: Yamaha Custom Z "YAS-82Z"
Mouthpiece: TK Saxophone "Reflection"
Reeds: Juwan Carbon Fiber Reeds

Tenor Saxophone

Instrument: Yamaha YTS-62 (Vintage Purple Logo)
Mouthpiece: Otto Link
Reeds: Légère Synthetic Reeds

Soprano Saxophone

Instrument: C&T Saxophone
Mouthpiece: Selmer Paris C* (C Star)
Reeds: Premium Selected Reeds

Lectures / Interviews (Selected)

Feng Chia University — "Music Backpacker: Traveling with Instruments"
National Changhua University of Education "Music Travel", National Defense University, NTUA, and more
Volkswagen feature — Jazz Musician Car Owner

Program Highlight

2024 Evergreen Symphony Music Camp · Solo Performance

2024/07/14 (Sun) 14:30

A. Márquez: Danzón No. 2
Artie Shaw: Clarinet Concerto — Soloist: Chih-Yuan Chen
W. A. Mozart: Turkish March
Rimsky-Korsakov: Scheherazade

Audience Response

2024 Evergreen Symphony Music Camp · Concerto — Voices from the Audience

Artie Shaw: Clarinet Concerto
with the Evergreen Symphony Orchestra Music Camp

2024 / 07 / 14 (Sun) 14:30 · Taipei National University of the Arts Concert Hall
Conductor: Prof. Wen-Chen Chuang · Soloist: Chih-Yuan Chen
Selected through audition — the sole candidate chosen among all applicants

Concerto Soloist Orchestra Collaboration Audition Selected Pre-Concert Talk Host

Evergreen Symphony Music Camp concerto performance

Principal Teacher · Prof. Tsu-Hsin Lin

"Intonation, tone, and musicality — all excellent. Honestly, this is the best I've ever heard you play. I'm truly happy for you."

Before the performance, Prof. Lin had told him: "You're there to perform, not to dance — don't get too carried away. Let the music carry the energy." Afterward, Chen sent a message saying he had the most fun he'd ever had on stage. The professor replied: "That means you're satisfied with yourself. That's what matters most."

Yuan-Bo · Long-time friend

"I've known Chen for years — from one ensemble to another, from clarinet to saxophone. He always finds a way to rise beautifully from the valleys. Today's concerto was absolutely his finest hour."

Jia-Hui · Audience member

"His solo was firing on all cylinders — that was completely his stage. I loved the laughing glance he exchanged with the drummer, then seamlessly brought us along to another chapter. An unexpectedly successful performance, beyond anything I anticipated."

Teacher Lucy · Music educator

"A very distinctive interpretation — a Chih-Yuan Chen limited edition, and it landed. There were a few rushed moments, but nothing lost control. If anything, it made the performance feel more alive — more human, more layered."

Teacher Wen-Chen · Evergreen Music Camp

"Chih-Yuan, you never cease to impress. The concert was so much richer because of you. Thank you."

Shui-Mu · Audience member

"I could see his musical soul dancing today. The back-and-forth with the other instruments — sometimes bright and fleet, sometimes full of warmth and drive — it was genuinely captivating. My mood lifted the whole time I was listening."

Yue-Ying · Audience member

"The pairing of jazz and concerto stood apart from everything else on the program — nimble and light, without adding any weight. During the clarinet solo, the body moved freely and naturally, singing out a bright, playful vitality. It felt like the beginning of an adventure full of hope.

The back-and-forth between the jazz drums and clarinet was my favorite moment of the whole evening — full of warmth and unspoken understanding, like old friends meeting at a bar to laugh and catch up. It brought support, warmth, and a sense of curiosity about what comes next."

📔 Day 2 · Music Camp Journal — Lost in the Rhythm of Life and the Score

"Arriving at the camp full of anticipation and excitement, I had my second individual lesson. Facing unstable rhythms in the score and a fear of heights at that last high C, I felt a wave of anxiety. And then it struck me: perhaps taking two steps back, letting myself slow down, is the way to find the rhythm of life again. The same is true on the page — the faster the notes, the more they need slow practice. That's how you get in tune, and enjoy both the music and life."