Tong Chen, violin (Shanghai, China) is an avid soloist, chamber and orchestral musician. He won 2nd prize at the Hong Kong International Violin Competition, 3rd prize at the Vancouver International Music Competition, and was a finalist at the Ysaye International Violin Competition. He also participated in the Queen Elisabeth International Violin Competition, as well as in numerous music festivals including Verbier Music Festival, Festival de Granada, Bowdoin International Music Festival, Four Seasons Chamber Music Winter Workshop, IMS Prussia Cove, Norfolk Chamber Music Festival and the Chamber Music Workshop at the Perlman Music Program. A passionate chamber musician, Tong has been coached by members of the Borromeo String Quartet, the Juilliard String Quartet, the Brentano String Quartet, as well as by Merry Peckham, John Heiss, and Saeunn Thorsteinsdottir. He has also enjoyed sharing the stage with Ida Kavafian, Colin Carr, Melvin Chen, Areta Zhulla, Vivian Hornik Weilerstein, and Paul Biss. He received his Bachelor, Master of Music, and Graduate Diploma from the New England Conservatory under Miriam Fried, Paul Biss and Donald Weilerstein. He has been influenced by mentors including Mark Steinberg and Itzhak Perlman. Currently, he is pursuing his Doctor of Musical Arts at Stony Brook University (SUNY) under the tutelage of Philip Setzer and Jennifer Frautschi.