Talented Alumnus Honoured

Media release
22 September 2008

Talented Alumnus Honoured

John Chen, a gifted pianist who has won major competitions and performed internationally, was honoured tonight as The University of Auckland’s Young Alumnus of the Year for 2008.

He was presented with the award at a ceremony held in the University’s Fale Pasifika and attended by 200 people.

“John Chen has been a stellar graduate of The University of Auckland School of Music,” said the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), Professor Raewyn Dalziel who gave the citation for John.

“He has performed from the time he was a student on the national and international stage. His achievements have been an inspiration to young musicians throughout the country, proving to them yet again that New Zealand can be a launching pad for a remarkable career in music.”

John is studying at the Colburn School of Performing Arts in Los Angeles and extended a trip to Australia to receive his award this evening. His commitments prevented him from joining the other Distinguished Alumni Award recipients for 2008 at a gala dinner in March.

John began his piano studies at the age of three. In 2004, at 18, he gained his Master of Music degree from The University of Auckland and also became the youngest ever winner of the Sydney International Piano Competition. Since then he has performed with major orchestras and conductors in New Zealand, Australia, Japan, the USA, Germany, Singapore and Hong Kong.

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