Award-winning pianist Yizhen Chen to perform Northwestern concert

NATCHITOCHES, La. (KTAL/KMSS) — Northwestern State University (NSU) will present pianist Yizhen Chen in concert on October 30 at 7:30 p.m. in the Magale Recital Hall.

Part of the Louisiana Piano Series International, the concert will feature the pianist performing works by Schumann, Scriabin, Zhang Zhao, and Schubert.

Chen, a gifted young pianist from China, has won awards and competitions around the world. Most recently, he was awarded the Gold Medal at the 2024 Wideman International Piano Competition in Shreveport.

So far in 2025, he has performed with the South Arkansas Symphony Orchestra and the Shreveport Symphony Orchestra.

In addition to performing in Shreveport, Chen has performed in Sydney, Australia, Shanghai, China, and Wilmington, North Carolina.

In addition to performing, Chen is a dedicated educator and was recently invited to teach in the preparatory piano program as junior faculty at the 2025 Vivace International Music Festival.

Chen was born in Ningbo, China, and began learning music at the age of 3. He moved to New York to continue his studies after graduating from the Middle School of the Shanghai Conservatory of Music.

Chen earned a Bachelor of Music from Mannes School of Music and is currently completing his Master of Music at the Juilliard School.

Tickets are $15; students at Northwestern, Bossier Parish Community College at NSU, and Louisiana School for Math, Science, and the Arts students are admitted free with a current student ID. A livestream will also be available.