Vikki Chen

Dr. Vikki Chen has performed internationally in recitals in the United States, Spain, the United Kingdom, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, and Malaysia. She recently performed at the 15th Malaysian Composers Concert Series 2024 at the Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre and in various recital venues throughout Malaysia.

 

Some of her awards include being the winner of the 2015 Missouri Collegiate Competition, second prize at the 2020 Graves Piano Competition, third prize at the 2019 University of Florida International Piano Festival Competition, and fifth prize at the Zimmerli Piano Competition, among others. She has performed in international music festivals including the Gijon International Piano Festival in Spain, Bowdoin International Music Festival in Maine, Brevard Music Festival in North Carolina, Summer Piano Institute in Yong Siew Toh Conservatory in Singapore, etc.

 

She has had masterclasses with renowned pedagogues including Julian Martin, Logan Skelton, Jean Saulnier, James Giles, Jose Ramon Mendez among others.

Dr. Chen received her doctorate and master’s degree from the University of Cincinnati-College-Conservatory of Music under the tutelage of Soyeon Kate Lee, who is currently on the faculty of the Juilliard School of Music. She received her bachelor’s degree with summa cum laude at Missouri State University under Dr. Wei-Han Su.

 

She was generously funded in her studies by scholarships including the University Graduate Assistantship of University of Cincinnati, Three Arts Scholarship Fund, Graduate Incentive Award, Kiefer-Young Memorial Scholarship, Friends of Music Scholarship, Missouri Federation of Music Clubs Scholarship and further supported generously by an anonymous donor.

​

In addition to performing solo, Dr. Chen is a keen chamber musician with experience in several piano trios and ensembles including one awarded winner of the 2015 Music Teachers National Association Missouri Chamber Music Competition, and a performance with Chopin Piano Concerto No. 1 with the Springfield Emerging Artists Orchestra. Her doctoral cognate was in music theory, and she enjoys delving into sonata theory, which led to a performance, lecture recital, and document on Shostakovich’s Piano Concerto No. 1.

 

Furthermore, she was a graduate assistant in secondary piano under Dr. Michelle Conda during her doctorate studies, where she was also elected co-president of the 2021-22 collegiate teachers’ chapter, and was artist-in-residence at Deupree Cottages in Cincinnati.

​

Hailing from Subang Jaya, Dr. Chen began her musical journey in Malaysia under the Yamaha Music School program with Sarah Yan and Lim Jit San and continued until acquiring the teacher’s Grade 4.

 

She furthered her classical piano studies with Ng Chong Lim, received her LTCL diploma, and attended festivals such as the Summer Piano Institute at Yong Siew Toh in Singapore, Opusfest: International Classical Music Camp in Philippines, Overseas Masters Winter Piano Academy in the United Kingdom, Asia International Piano Academy and Festival in South Korea and the Kuala Lumpur International Festival.

​

Outside of music, she is fond of walking her dog, playing badminton, and drinking tea.