K-pop on violin? Ray Chen ventures out to become gateway to classical music

Ray Chen is serious about bridging people with classical music. The Taiwanese Australian violinist is one of the most active YouTubers among star instrumentalists in his generation. A recent video features him playing “Soda Pop” from the Oscar-winning animation “KPop Demon Hunters.” He also founded the app “Tonic” to help musicians from all over the world connect and share effective ways to practice. Ahead of a recital in Seoul on June 4 at Lotte Concert Hall, Chen gave a written interview on The Hankook Ilbo. “Even if one is not a concertgoer, a familiar tune played in a way unheard before can make one stop scrolling and pay attention. In that moment of surprise — ‘K-pop on the violin?’ — a door opens.” The 37-year-old made his mark by winning the Yehudi Menuhin International Competition for Young Violinists in 2008 and the Queen Elisabeth Competition in 2009. Since then, he has remained active on the international stage, performing with major orchestras such as the New York Philharmonic, the London Philharmonic Orchestra and many others. He is also a classical

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