Irene Chen is an internationally acclaimed soloist, chamber musician, and orchestral player and is the winner of several competitions, including the International Clarinet Association (ICA) Young Artist Competition (2009) held in Porto, Portugal, being the 1st Taiwanese clarinetist to win the prize.

Irene’s playing is said to be ‘warm, sensitive, thoughtful and inspirational’. Recent appearances include the Macau Orchestra, the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, and the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra.

In 2011 Irene was chosen from thousands of applicants from around the world to be part of the YouTube Symphony Orchestra, which resulted in a performance at Sydney Opera House under the baton of Michael Tilson Thomas. She subsequently held orchestral positions as principal clarinet with the Kwa-Zulu Natal Philharmonic Orchestra in Durban, South Africa, Dunshan Symphonic Wind Orchestra in Beijing, China, and the Orchestra Accademia China also in Beijing.

During the years of performing and living in different continents, Irene has absorbed all different cultures into her playing, making her music vivid, colourful, characteristic, and alive. She is also keen on playing different styles of music, especially in exploring new compositions. Various new works are written for her, including “Valse Bleu” and “Circles” featuring her musicality and creativity in her clarinet playing. More