Recital Spotlight Series: Laure Chan, Violin
Hailed as a ‘Rising Star’ in Classic FM’s 30 under 30 in 2024!
Programme
J.S. Bach: Chaconne in D minor, from Partita No. 2
Chen Yi: Memory
Coleridge Taylor-Perkinson: Louisiana Blues Strut
Insanity (original composition)
and Beethoven: Violin Concerto, with Orchestra VOX, conducted by Hannah von Wiehler
About Laure Chan
British Franco-Chinese violinist Laure Chan has been described as “a mesmerizing stage presence with the rare ability to draw the attention of the audience into her performance” (Isabelle van Keulen) and “an instinctive musician with a feeling for what is right” (Maxim Vengerov).
Hailed as a rising star by BBC Music Magazine and on Classic FM’s 30 under 30 list in 2024, Laure enjoys a varied performance career as a soloist and ensemble player. She has performed throughout the UK, Europe, Asia, and America in concert halls such as the Royal Albert Hall, Philharmonie de Paris, Teatro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, Wiener Konzerthaus, Concertgebouw, Elbphilharmonie, Herodes Atticus, Shanghai Oriental Arts Centre, and the Lincoln Center. As an ensemble player, Laure has toured throughout the UK and Europe with conductors such as Sir Roger Norrington, Marin Alsop, and Gustavo Dudamel. In December 2023, Laure made her solo debut at Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall.
Recent highlights include Laure’s first recital appearance in the Canary Islands at Auditorio Teobaldo Power in Tenerife, and her debut with the BBC Concert Orchestra performing Bruch’s violin concerto conducted by Anna-Maria Helsing.
Laure has gained numerous awards including 1st prize at the 2023 International Golden Classical Music Awards in New York, The Century Fund Prize / Richard III Prize in 2018 for solo baroque violin at the Royal College of Music, 1st prize at the 2015 Paris Grand Prize Virtuoso International Music Competition, the 2010 Music Director’s Award of the Oxford Philharmonic, and the John McAslan violin prize at the Royal Academy of Music from 2007-2011.
Laure has made multiple appearances on major radio stations over the years including LBC News Radio, Norwegian Radio, BBC Radio 3 – In Tune, BBC Radio Scotland, BBC Radio 4, BBC Radio 6, BBC Sounds, NTS Radio, Scala Radio, Times Radio, and on Classic FM featured as a “Young Classical Star”. In June 2021, Laure became the host of her own radio show “Classical and Beyond” as part of Classical Turquoise Radio. The programme featured 8 episodes exploring a variety of musical styles and cultures inviting special guest artists from around the world.
Laure is passionate about exploring new horizons through a variety of musical styles. Developing an interest in composition, Laure aims to combine her classical background with inspirations from multiple genres and cultures. She has released EPs and albums featuring original works and works of the classical repertoire which are available on streaming platforms worldwide.
Her debut album Tribute to Bach released in March 2021 features staple works by the composer as well as a variety of styles in her original compositions, all drawing inspiration from J.S. Bach’s music. The album gained hundreds of thousands of streams as an independent release and was widely featured in the press and radio stations such as on Violinist.com and the BBC.
Her second album Schumann Violin Concerto was recorded at Abbey Road Studios with the Sinfonia Perdita conducted by Daniel Hogan. The album also features her original composition Lost in Translation, a multitrack violin recording solely played by Laure. It was featured on The Strad on its release day on 1 March 2024.
Born in London, Laure began the violin at the age of five at the Royal Academy of Music in London studying with sisters Laura and Eleanor Stanford and continuing at the Junior Department with Yumi Sasaki. She joined the Royal College of Music as a Scholar in 2012 studying with Itzhak Rashkovsky, Radu Blidar, and Gabrielle Lester. She has gained a Bachelor of Music, a Master in Performance, and an Artist Diploma all with first class honours. She has received guidance from great violinists such as Maxim Vengerov, Pinchas Zukerman, Nicola Benedetti, and Isabelle van Keulen.
Laure would like to thank the Hattori Foundation, Donald Paterson Fund, EMI Music Sound Foundation, Dorothy Croft Trust, John Lewis Partnership, The Countess of Munster Musical Trust, Gandar Dower Fund, Help Musicians UK, The Royal Society of Musicians of Great Britain, and Talent Unlimited for their generous support.
