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, Russian National Orchestra, Munich Philharmonic, National Symphony Orchestra of Belgium, Orquesta Sinfónica de Navarra, Singapore Symphony Orchestra, Taiwan Philharmonic, China Philharmonic Orchestra, Hong Kong Sinfonietta and many others. He has worked with Maestros such as Valery Gergiev, Jiří Bělohlávek, Mikhail Pletnev, Esa-Pekka Salonen, Osmo Vänskä and Jacek Kaspszyk.
During the 2018-2019 season, Yu-Chien had his debut with the Hungarian Radio Symphony Orchestra under maestro Tamás Vásáry, Shanghai Symphony Orchestra, 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 first appearance as a guest artist to Schloss Elmau during the Verbier Festival residency. Yu-Chien is recently on tour in Taiwan, and despite the pandemic, he has made 23 sold-out concerts in the past two years, expecting more to come in 2022.
Born in Taipei, Taiwan, Yu-Chien(Benny) pursued his studies in the Curtis Institute of Music from the age of 13. He plays on the “ex Jules Massenet” 1735 Nicolò Gagliano on generous loan from a private collector.
