Yu-Chien (Benny) Tseng is rapidly building an international reputation as one of today's most exciting and gifted young concert soloists of enormous promise praised for his “grace, poise, and blistering virtuosity.”
Following his win at the XV International Tchaikovsky Violin Competition in 2015, he has made a series of major debut with the London Philharmonic, Munich Philharmonic, Mariinsky theatre Orchestra and Czech Philharmonic. Signed to Deutsche Grammophone in 2016, the second album was recorded with Maestro Mikhail Pletnev and the Russian National Orchestra, featuring Tchaikovsky violin concerto and other celebrated works by the composer. A student of eminent pedagogues Aaron Rosand and Ida Kavafian at the Curtis Institute of Music, Tseng previously won first prizes at the Singapore International Violin Competition, Sarasate Violin Competition and the Isang Yun Violin Competition in Korea.
After his German debut with the Saarbrucken Radio Orchestra, the critic praised his performance of the Beethoven Violin Concerto:
“Classically balanced without showing off; Sensitive, discreet nuances; Highly cultured sound; graceful and playful, relaxed elegance without attitude — Exemplary!”
Yu-Chien has appeared as a soloist with the Philadelphia Orchestra, London Philharmonia Orchestra, Mariinsky theatre Orchestra, Czech Philharmonic, Russian National Orchestra, Munich Philharmonic, National Symphony Orchestra of Belgium, Orquesta Sinfónica de Navarra, Hungarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, Sinfonia Varsovia, Singapore Symphony Orchestra, Tokyo Philharmonic, Shanghai Symphony Orchestra, Taiwan Philharmonic, China Philharmonic Orchestra, Hong Kong Sinfonietta and among many others. He has worked with Maestros such as Valery Gergiev, Jiří Bělohlávek, Mikhail Pletnev, Esa-Pekka Salonen, Osmo Vänskä, Jacek Kaspszyk and Lan Shui.
Highlights of recent seasons includes, debut with the Tonkunstler Orchestra in Vienna with maestro Vincenzo Milletari, Hungarian Radio Symphony Orchestra under maestro Tamás Vásáry, Czech Philharmonic with maestro Kahchun Wong, Tokyo Philharmonic with maestro Mikhail Pletnev and performed Penderecki concerto no.1 in Warsaw Philharmonic hall celebrating the 85th birthday of the composer, and his debut as a guest artist to Schloss Elmau during the Verbier Festival residency. Despite the pandemic, he has made 31 sold-out concerts in Taiwan during the past two years.
Born in Taipei, Taiwan, Yu-Chien pursued his studies in the renowned Curtis Institute of Music from the age of 13. He plays on the “ex Jules Massenet” 1735 Nicolo Gagliano on generous loan from a private collector.
