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Biography

Noted for “polished and atmospheric performance” (Chicago Classical Review) as well as “bracing precision and subtlety” (The Classical Review), Eli Chen’s work as a musician and conductor reflect his belief in the power of music to unite, reveal, and challenge. His continued pursuit of these values has established him as an introspective musician, versatile artist, and avid collaborator.

Eli Chen began his conducting work in opera at the University of Virginia, directing a student-led production of Mozart’s The Magic Flute. Through the years, he has collaborated on many other opera productions, including full productions of Suor Angelica and The Pirates of Penzance with the Undergraduate Company of Opera Singers at Northwestern University. In 2021, he assisted the Chicago Opera Theater and their music director Lidiya Yankovskaya on a production of Mark Adamo’s Becoming Santa Claus, stepping in at the last minute to conduct the second performance.

Since 2015, Chen has served as the Principal Conductor of the Ravenswood Community Orchestra, bringing local musicians together through excellent music-making. Chen is in his second year of serving the Elmhurst Symphony Orchestra and director Stephen Alltop as Assistant Conductor. He has also closely worked with the Chicago Philharmonic and artistic director Scott Speck, covering a number of diverse programs in their regular seasons. Chen has appeared as guest conductor abroad, leading performances with the Berlin Sinfonietta and the Lviv National Philharmonic.

Chen is equally as intrigued by contemporary voices in music as by the symphonic and operatic literature. He has partnered with the acclaimed Fifth House Ensemble on multiple genre-crossing projects, including Journey LIVE with Austin Wintory’s Grammy-nominated score, the first U.S. tour of Mike Mills’ Concerto for Violin, Rock Band and String Orchestra with Robert McDuffie, and most recently their multiple-city tour of Undertale LIVE. Invited as the first conducting fellow of their Fresh Inc Festival in 2019, he led multiple world premieres of works by living composers.

Chen received his Bachelor’s degrees in Biochemistry and in Music at the University of Virginia, where he began his conducting studies with Music Director Laureate Kate Tamarkin. He went on to receive his master’s degree in conducting in 2014 from Northwestern University Bienen School of Music under the tutelage and mentorship of Victor Yampolsky. Chen continues his conducting studies with other influential teachers, which have included Mark Gibson, Larry Rachleff, Donald Schleicher, and Carl St. Clair.