Bio

Charles Chen is a seventeen year old composer and musician from Winston Churchill High School in Maryland. His music is often focused on aspects of nature evolutions and phenomenons that occur in the world and outer space, ranging from landscape changes to cosmic dramas. Charles seeks to write music where the audience can be in a state of mind that allows them to experience the dynamic atmosphere of the universe. He draws inspiration from composers such as Claude Debussy, Isang Yun, Gyorgi Ligeti, Akira Nishimura, Toshio Hosokawa, Kaija Saariaho, etc. Currently, he studies privately with Mr. Yiming Wu and Prof. Wang Lu. 

Charles’s music has received recognitions from various competitions including MTNA, Tribeca, The American Prize, Downbeat, 2 time finalist from ASCAP, and was selected for the 2024 Earshot Readings hosted by the National Arts Centre Orchestra. His work has also been debuted by the May Flower Arts Center in their concert program “In Bloom: Spotlight on Aspiring Young Composers.” 

As a violinist, Charles currently plays in his high school orchestra and has participated in orchestra programs such as Maryland Classical Youth Orchestra and Young Artists of America. He also plays violin in his high school’s Musicians Club, where they perform concerts for the elderly.

Apart from music, Charles enjoys badminton, traveling, and gaming.