Van Cliburn Pianist Sean Chen Performs at Mississippi College

Sean Chen

Pianist Sean Chen wowed fans and won over music critics at the 2013 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition.

Recognized for his talents as a charismatic rising star, Chen was named the Crystal Award winner at the prestigious 14^th piano competition at the age of 24. He was the first American to earn a Cliburn award since 1997.

On February 6^th, the masterful pianist will perform at Mississippi College in a concert that music lovers won’t want to miss. The program begins at 7:30 p.m. at Swor Auditorium, with the MC Music Department sponsoring the Friday evening event on the Clinton campus. Earlier in the day, he will meet in a class with MC music students.

In the 2014-15 season, Sean Chen booked performances with the Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia along with the Milwaukee, San Diego and Hartford Symphony Orchestras.

Prior to his MC visit, Chen is scheduled for a February 3 concert at the University of New Orleans. He performs with the Hartford Symphony Orchestra in Connecticut February 13-15.

Born in Florida, Chen grew up in Oak Park, California. His musical performances include the splendid works of Beethoven, Brahms, Rachmaninoff and Bartok. But he also writes his own arrangements and compositions. The New Haven, Connecticut resident has studied at the Yale School of Music. He also studied at the Julliard School in New York City where he earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees.

Chen has performed solo recitals in cities like Amsterdam, Boston, New York, Miami, Indianapolis, Los Angeles and Taipei. In 2014, he released a solo album on the Steinway label with works by Scriabin and Ravel. Several of his concerts have been aired live on New York’s WQXR and Boston’s WGBH.

General admission tickets are $25 for adults and $15 for Mississippi College faculty and staff. Students from any school will be charged $5.

For more information, contact Dottie Serio of the MC Music Department at 601-925-3440 or Serio@mc.edu. Tickets can be purchased online at mc.edu/marketplace and will also be available at the door.