Violinist-conductor An-Po Chen’s musical journey began unconventionally from a conductor’s perspective, which has led him to become a distinctive voice among instrumentalists of his generation.

As an orchestral soloist, An-Po has performed on stages including Smetana Hall (Prague, Czechia), the Kraków Opera (Kraków, Poland), and the California Theatre (San Jose, United States), among others. He has also appeared as a recitalist at Carnegie Hall (New York, United States) and the Walt Disney Concert Hall (Los Angeles, United States). An-Po made his international touring debut in 2025, performing in Poland and Czechia with appearances in Warsaw, Puławy, Kraków, and Prague. Highlights of the tour included Sarasate’s Navarra, Op. 33 for two violins and orchestra.

Passionate about chamber music and collaboration, An-Po studied piano trios and violin-piano sonatas with Zak Grafilo of the Alexander String Quartet and continues to receive guidance from the Grammy-winning Ying Quartet. He currently performs in a string quartet with his talented peers at the Eastman School of Music and, as one half of Duo Reverie, is dedicated to discovering gems written for two violins.

With extensive experience in orchestral leadership and conducting, An-Po has held principal violin positions with ensembles including Orchestra Gradus ad Parnassum, the New Millennium Ensemble, and the Eastman School Symphony Orchestra. He also served as Principal Violin and later Assistant Conductor of the Archbishop Mitty Orchestra for two years. Shortly after graduating from the San Jose Youth Symphony as Concertmaster, he joined the historic organization’s staff as both Camp Co-Director and Assistant Conductor. While An-Po’s orchestral and conducting repertoire encompasses primarily classical works, he also has experience in musical theater, most recently having conducted the Archbishop Mitty Theater Orchestra in The Drowsy Chaperone: A Musical Within a Comedy.

An-Po is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Music degree at the Eastman School of Music with violinist Mikhail Kopelman. He also studies with conductor Imant Airea, who has been a significant influence on both his violin playing and conducting. Prior to his studies at Eastman, An-Po earned a diploma from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, where he studied violin alongside additional training in conducting and chamber music.