Art of Piano: Hung-Kuan Chen

Pianist Hung-Kuan Chen’s career – as well as his life - has been a vivid example of the concept of yin-and-yang, whereby apparent opposites are complementary: each fulfills a need in the other to exist.

Born in Taipei and raised in Germany, Mr. Chen has performed in many of the world’s foremost concert venues, including Carnegie Hall, Alice Tully in New York, the Kennedy Center in D.C., Davies Symphony Hall in San Francisco, the Tonhalle in Zürich, the Herkulesaal in Munich, the Sala Verdi in Milan, Suntory Hall in Tokyo, National Concert Hall in Taipei, Shanghai Concert Hall and the Forbidden City Concert Hall in Beijing and others. 

His 2024-2025 season includes solo and orchestral performances worldwide and a film about his life will be released. 
He enjoys fruitful collaborations with so many notable conductors and artists, but his most meaningful artistic partnership is with his wife, Tema Blackstone in their piano duo.  

One of the most honored pianists of his generation, Chen won Rubinstein, Busoni, Young Concert Artists, and is recipient of an Avery Fisher career Grant.
Hundreds of students worldwide have benefitted from Hung-Kuan Chen’s knowledge and love of music. “Teaching and performing complement one another,” he declares. Yuja Wang studied with him since age 13.  Mr. Chen is on the faculty of The Juilliard School and was a visiting professor at Yale & a professor at NEC & Shanghai Conservatory.  He has adjudicated the Van Cliburn, Rubinstein, Busoni, Shanghai, and Honens.  

In 1992, Hung-Kuan Chen suffered a hand injury resulting in focal dystonia. Through meditation and his own unique research, he was able to heal and return to his life as a concert artist.