Nan-Cheng Chen is a Taiwanese-American cellist who has made a name for himself in the classical music world. Born in Taipei, Taiwan in 1988, Chen began playing the cello at the age of six. His parents, both music teachers, recognized his talent early on and encouraged him to pursue a career in music. Chen's early musical education was rigorous. He studied with some of the best teachers in Taiwan, including Professor Hsin-Yun Huang, who is now a professor at the Juilliard School in New York. Chen's talent was evident from a young age, and he quickly became known as a prodigy in the Taiwanese music scene. In 2006, Chen moved to the United States to attend the Cleveland Institute of Music, where he studied with Richard Aaron. He also studied with Joel Krosnick at the Juilliard School, where he earned his Master's degree in 2012. During his time in the United States, Chen won numerous awards and competitions, including the Cleveland Institute of Music Concerto Competition and the Juilliard School Concerto Competition. Chen's career as a professional cellist began in earnest in 2012, when he was appointed as the principal cellist of the Memphis Symphony Orchestra. He held this position for two years before moving to New York City to pursue a career as a soloist and chamber musician. Since then, Chen has performed all over the world, including in the United States, Europe, and Asia. He has appeared as a soloist with numerous orchestras, including the Taipei Symphony Orchestra, the National Taiwan Symphony Orchestra, and the Memphis Symphony Orchestra. He has also performed in some of the world's most prestigious concert halls, including Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, and the National Concert Hall in Taipei. Chen's repertoire is wide-ranging, and he is equally comfortable performing works from the classical and contemporary canons. He has a particular affinity for the music of J.S. Bach, and has performed the complete suites for solo cello in concert. He has also premiered works by contemporary composers, including the Taiwanese composer Chihchun Chi-sun Lee. In addition to his work as a soloist, Chen is also an active chamber musician. He is a member of the New Asia Chamber Music Society, a group dedicated to promoting the music of Asian composers. He has also collaborated with some of the world's most renowned musicians, including the violinist Cho-Liang Lin and the pianist Emanuel Ax. Chen's talent has been recognized with numerous awards and honors. In 2014, he was awarded the prestigious Avery Fisher Career Grant, which is given to outstanding young musicians who show exceptional promise for a career in classical music. He has also been a recipient of the Taiwan Ministry of Culture's Outstanding Artist Award. Chen is also committed to music education, and has taught at the University of Memphis and the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He has also given masterclasses at institutions around the world, including the Taipei National University of the Arts and the Shanghai Conservatory of Music. In addition to his work as a cellist, Chen is also an avid photographer. He often documents his travels and performances through his camera lens, and has exhibited his photographs in galleries in New York City and Taipei. Overall, Nan-Cheng Chen is a talented and versatile musician who has made a significant impact on the classical music world.

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