Cellist Daphne Chen

Daphne Chen was born in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, and studied piano before discovering the cello. After graduating at the top of her class from the National Taiwan University of Arts, she came to the United States on a full scholarship to Pepperdine University, earning her BA in Cello Performance, and subsequently received her Master’s Degree in Cello Performance from UCLA. She has performed with many well-known symphony orchestras and has toured throughout the United States, giving recitals to much acclaim. She formerly served as President of the Malibu Institute of Music and currently teaches at the Tainan University of Science and Technology in Taiwan. Her performances were praised by master cellists including Mstislav Rostropovich, Janos Starker, and Anner Bylsma. Rostropovich, who had previously announced he would no longer accept students, made an exception after hearing Chen play, taking her on as his last disciple. Ronald Leonard, first cellist of the LA Philharmonic, considered her his successor among his most talented students.