Yen-How Chen
Current Position:
Associate Professor, Department of Music, Taipei National University of the Arts (TNUA)
Teaching areas: French Horn, Chamber Music, Brass Ensemble, Wind Ensemble
Education:
• B.A., National Institute of the Arts (now Taipei National University of the Arts), Department of Music
• Postgraduate studies at the Royal College of Music, London (RCM)
Biography:
Yen-How Chen is a prominent French horn player and educator, currently serving as Associate Professor at Taipei National University of the Arts. He is a former Principal Horn of the Taipei Symphony Orchestra and an official artist/endorser for Yamaha’s premium handcrafted French horn line.
Chen actively promotes a wide range of horn repertoire, especially modern and 20th-century works. He has presented numerous solo and chamber music recitals, and is frequently invited to perform as a soloist with orchestras in Taiwan and abroad. His appearances include horn concertos and principal horn performances with leading symphony orchestras. In recent years, he has participated in the ambitious "Crazy 24" series at the National Kaohsiung Center for the Arts (Weiwuying), performing intensive chamber music programs featuring Mozart and Beethoven within 24 hours.
In 2022, Chen founded the Taiwan Glory Brass Ensemble, serving as Artistic Director. The ensemble is dedicated to promoting brass chamber music, bringing music to rural communities, and engaging in public service and outreach.
Selected Major Performances & Activities 2024
• Performed various chamber works for winds as part of “Crazy 24:
Beethoven” series at Weiwuying.
2023
• Participated in “Crazy 24: Mozart” wind chamber series at Weiwuying.
• Led Taiwan Brass Ǫuintet in a series of concerts, including:
• Founding Concerts (January & May)
• Classical Brass Ǫuintet performance at Nangang Biotech Park Concert Hall (November)
• “Dionysian Brass” annual concert at Zhongshan Hall Guangfu Auditorium (December)
• Two featured performances at the Vienna Arts Festival, showcasing music with Taiwanese characteristics.
2022
• Founded the Taiwan Glory Brass Ensemble as Artistic Director.
• Performed R. Glière’s Horn Concerto with Taipei Philharmonic Orchestra at the National Concert Hall (April).
2021
• Gave two recitals (March & December) with pianist Ruei-Ying Chen at TNUA Concert Hall, featuring neoclassical French horn works and romantic pieces by R. Schumann and R. Strauss.
2020
• Invited as soloist with the Taipei Symphony Orchestra at the TNUA Kuandu Arts Festival, performing R. Strauss’s Horn Concerto No. 2 (October).
2019
• Guest Principal Horn with the Taipei Symphony Orchestra for Mahler’s Symphony No. 2 and Symphony No. 4, conducted by Eliahu Inbal (October & November).
• Performed a full program of American horn works with pianist Ruei-Ying Chen at TNUA (May).
• Guest Principal Horn on TSO’s concert tour to Guangzhou, Dongguan, and Xiamen, China (April).
• Performed Mahler’s Symphony No. 7 as Guest Principal Horn with TSO and Ballett am Rhein at Weiwuying Opera House (February).