Singaporean pianist Churen redefines classical pianism by blending different musical genres in her personal musical voice. Hailed as “the closest thing I know to be the ‘complete’ pianist” in Singapore by a leading music critic and a “well rounded, versatile performer” by another, she tours internationally as a classical recitalist and orchestral soloist, playing her own compositions and improvisations in concert, in addition to an eclectic repertoire from ranging from Chopin and Debussy, to Michael Jackson, John Williams, and George Crumb.
Praised for her “poise, expressiveness and keyboard abilities”, she opened the Singapore Symphony Orchestra’s 2022/23 season in July ‘22 with Grieg’s Piano Concerto conducted by Han-Na Chang. Churen has also been featured in the Singapore International Piano Festival and Singapore International Festival of Arts. In the same year, her debut album Ephemory revealed a composer-pianist of contemporary and post-modern sensibilities adept in a variety of musical languages, delivering original takes on well-known classical themes as well as her own original compositions. In 2018, Churen produced and performed in a concert at Singapore’s well known Zouk nightclub, juxtaposing the Western art songs within a pop culture setting. She was among the ten pianists selected in 2018 to participate and perform in the Darmstadt International Summer Course for New Music, and in the same year, at the prestigious Roche Continents programme in Salzburg, an interdisciplinary programme of workshops and lectures in the arts and in science.
Graduating at the age of 19 with a Bachelor’s Degree from the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music (National University of Singapore) as the youngest in her cohort, Churen subsequently studied with well-known pianist Peter Frankl and Hung-Kuan Chen at the Yale School of Music where she obtained a Master’s Degree. She later went on to obtain a Master of Philosophy in Music from Cambridge University with a dissertation on George Crumb. Since then, Churen continues to be active in the performance and production of new music, working in inter-disciplinary collaborations and across genres.
A prize winner at numerous international piano competitions, Churen has also been invited to perform at music festivals and recital halls all over the world, often appearing in partnership with luxury brands such as Cartier, Chanel and Richard Mille. She was also honoured in Singapore Tatler's Generation-T List in 2018. In 2015, she performed as soloist in a tour of Macau and Hong Kong with the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music Orchestra, at the invitation of Singapore’s High Consulate in Hong Kong as part of Singapore’s 50th jubilee celebrations of independence. Other concerto engagements include performances with the Singapore Symphony Orchestra, Cambridge University Orchestra, Klassische Budapest Philharmonic, Metropolitan Festival Orchestra Singapore, Mikhail Jora Philharmonic of Bacau and National University of Singapore Symphony Orchestra.
She is also the recipient of prestigious grants, including the Tan Kah Kee Postgraduate Scholarship (2015), the FJ Benjamin-Singapore Symphony Orchestra Bursary (2013) and the National Arts Council Arts Scholarship (2011-15).
Churen currently teaches at the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music as an Artist Faculty and was previously an Academic Faculty at Yale-NUS College. She is the founder of the Classical Music Adventures initiative, a series of interactive classical music shows that work with community venues.
Her past teachers include Albert Tiu, Bernard Lanskey, Paul Liang, Peter Frankl and Hung-Kuan Chen.
2023
16 - 18 August 2024
Augmented Harmony: A Duet with AI
Singapore
20 - 21 June 2024
Violin Duo Concert
Shanghai and Hangzhou, China
7 June 2024
Rachmaninoff Symphony No.2, Op.27 with Sichuan Symphony Orchestra
Chengdu, China
21 May 2024
Music and Word: The Rite of Spring and The Afternoon of a Faun
Performance with Melvyn Tan as part of the Charleston Festival
United Kingdom
https://www.charleston.org.uk/event/music-word/
25 April 2024
Churen Li: Live at the Godown
Utrecht, Netherlands
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/churen-li-live-at-the-godown-tickets-876150017287?aff=oddtdtcreator
20 April 2024
Classical Music Adventures: Encounters with Bach
Our Tampines Hub, Singapore
30 March 2024
FEMME-DOM
The Arts House, Singapore
24 March 2024
Yayasan Chow Kit Charity Concert
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
23 March 2024
Classical Music Adventures: Encounters with Debussy
Our Tampines Hub, Singapore
3 February 2024
Classical Music Adventures: Encounters with Vivaldi
Our Tampines Hub, Singapore
6 January 2024
Classical Music Adventures: Encounters with Mozart
Our Tampines Hub, Singapore
21 November 2023
Bentley Music and Steinways & Sons Collaboration Event
Singapore
16 November 2023
Salle Cortot Concert
Paris, France
https://www.leparisien.fr/etudiant/sortir/paris/eve-churen/
29 October - 4 November 2023
Alliance for Responsible Leadership (ARC) Forum
London, United Kingdom
27 October 2023
Dances and Dreams: Plenary Concert with Melvyn Tan
A programme of 2 piano works to include: Ravel La Valse, Stravinsky Rite of Spring, Milhaud Scaramouche
Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music, Recital Studio
http://www.ystmusic.nus.edu.sg/
27 October 2023
Resonance through Time: Lecture-Recital with Melvyn Tan
A programme of selected Sonatas and Variations by Mozart on a fortepiano for 4 hands.
Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music, Recital Studio
http://www.ystmusic.nus.edu.sg/
13 October 2023
Candlelight Concerts: Best of Chopin
Arts House Chamber
24 September 2023
Piano Recital of Original Compositions
Parc de Sculptures du Château Sainte Marie
Dijon, France
10 September 2023
Skandalkonzert: “AI. vs. Human”: An Improv Battle between CHUREN and an A.I.
Feat. Henry Lee, Yee Hui Chia and Ian Chapman-Banks
1880 Singapore
9 July 2023
Grieg Piano Concerto with Sichuan Symphony Orchestra
Chengdu, China
16-19 June 2023
CARTIER “Markers of Style” Performance and Exhibition
Chengdu, China
25 June 2023
Skandalkonzert: “High Art vs. Low Art” Feat. Electronics Composer Peter Tornquist and DJ Kin Leonn
1880 Singapore
7-9 May 2023
CARTIER “Markers of Style” Performance and Exhibition
Qingdao, China
5 May 2023
Candlelight Concerts: Best of Chopin
Arts House Chamber
29 April 2023
Traversing — Ding Yi Music Company Season Opening Concert
“Youth” Piano Concerto by Liu Shi Kun, arranged by Phoon Yew Tian and New Commission by Cheng Jin Koh
https://www.sistic.com.sg/events/season0423
Esplanade Waterfront Theatre, Singapore
25 March 2023
Classical Music Adventures: Encounters with Ravel
Our Tampines Hub, Singapore
With art director Phoebe Zoe Ho
17-18 March 2023
NUS Arts Festival
University Culture Centre, Singapore
With Evanturetime and Prako
https://cfa.nus.edu.sg/naf2023/event/moonrise/
15 March 2023
Candlelight Concerts: Best of Chopin
Arts House Chamber
9 March 2023
《月升》International Women’s Day Concert for Cartier China
Shanghai Jaguar Symphony Hall
Shanghai, China
13 January 2023
Triple Pianists Rhythmie, Churen & KJ
Maestro Art of School, Hong Kong
10 January 2023
Art SG Opening Performance
Marina Bay Sands, Singapore
9 January 2023
Cartier Private Concert
Arts House Chamber
7 January 2023
Candlelight Concerts: Best of Chopin
Arts House Chamber
2024
2022
28 December 2022
Candlelight Concerts: Best of Chopin
Arts House Chamber
2-11 December 2022
5th Piano Island Festival
Jury Member, Masterclasses, Solo Recital and Lecture
Various Venues, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
https://www.pianoislandfestival.com
26 November 2022
Classical Music Adventures: Encounters with Schumann
Our Tampines Hub, Singapore
With art director Phoebe Zoe Ho
29 September 2022
Marquee, Singapore
24 September 2022
Classical Music Adventures: Encounters with Chopin
Our Tampines Hub, Singapore
With art director Phoebe Zoe Ho
23 September 2022
Candlelight: Best of Chopin (9 pm)
Arts House Chamber, Singapore
23 September 2022
Candlelight: A Tribute to Lady Gaga (7 pm)
Arts House Chamber, Singapore
24 August 2022
Chanel High Jewellery Gala Dinner Performance
Clifford Pier Hotel, Singapore
17 August 2022
Singapore High Commission’s National Day Reception in KL
Kuala Lumpur, Shangri-La hotel
13 August 2022, 6.30 and 8.30 pm
Churen Li Plays Piano: Classics and Myself
Presented by Cross Ratio Entertaiment
Steven Baxter Recital Studio
https://churenliplays.peatix.com/
17 July 2022
Singapore Symphony Orchestra: HAN-NA CHANG AND CHUREN LI – BEETHOVEN AND GRIEG
Esplanade Concert Hall, Singapore
https://www.sso.org.sg/orchestra-season/han-na-chang-churen-li-beethoven-grieg
25 June 2022
Classical Music Adventures: Encounters with Beethoven
Our Tampines Hub, Singapore
With art director Phoebe Zoe Ho
31 May 2022
Farewell Concert and Album Launch
Yale-NUS Performance Hall, Singapore
12 May 2022
Candlelight: Beethoven's Best Works at Victoria Concert Hall (6.30 and 9 pm)
Victoria Concert Hall, Singapore
11 May 2022
Candlelight: Chopin’s Best Works at Victoria Concert Hall (6.30 and 9 pm)
Victoria Concert Hall, Singapore
27 February - 5 March 2022
13, 14 February 2022
Candlelight Concerts: Valentine's Day Special (6.30 and 9 pm)
CHIJMES, Singapore
2021
20, 21 October 2021
Candlelight Halloween: A Haunted Evening of Petrifying Compositions on Piano (6.30 and 9 pm)
Arts House Chamber, Singapore
Michael Jackson, Radiohead, John Williams, George Crumb, etc.
28, 29 September 2021
Candlelight Concerts: The Great Romantics (6.30 and 9 pm)
CHIJMES, Singapore
Ed Sheeran, John Legend, Michael Wong, Chopin, Schumann, Tchaikovsky, etc.
27 September 2021
Candlelight Concerts: Debussy and Ravel (6.30 and 9 pm)
CHIJMES, Singapore
8 September 2021
Candlelight Concerts: Chopin (6.30 and 9 pm)
Victoria Theatre, Singapore
https://feverup.com/m/95774?event_source=similar_plan
12, 13 August 2021
Candlelight Concerts: Chopin (6.30 and 9 pm)
Victoria Theatre, Singapore
https://feverup.com/m/95774?event_source=similar_plan
4, 6 August 2021
Candlelight Concerts: Singaporean Composers (6.30 and 9 pm)
Arts House Chamber, Singapore
3, 25, 26 August 2021
Candlelight Concerts: Debussy and Ravel (6.30 and 9 pm)
Arts House Chamber, Singapore
14, 15, 22, 23, 24, 28, 29 July 2021
Candlelight Concerts: Chopin (6.30 and 9 pm, additional 4 pm show on 24th)
Victoria Theatre, Singapore
16, 17 June 2021
Candlelight Concerts: Chopin (6.30 and 9 pm)
Victoria Concert Hall, Singapore
[SOLD OUT]
4 June 2021
Singapore International Piano Festival (4 pm and 7.30 pm)
Bach/Li, Schumann, Crumb, Ravel
Victoria Concert Hall, Singapore
https://www.sso.org.sg/sipf/events/churen-li
[SOLD OUT]
22 May 2021
Singapore International Festival of Arts: Alone Together
With Yang Shuxiang and Leslie Tan
Arts House Chamber
https://www.sifa.sg/programmes/music/alone-together
[SOLD OUT]
18, 19 May 2021
Candlelight Concerts: Chopin (POSTPONED)
Marina Bay Sands Theatre, Singapore
13 May 2021
Candlelight Concerts: Debussy and Ravel (6.30 and 9 pm)
CHIJMES, Singapore
[SOLD OUT]
12 May 2021
Candlelight Concerts: Chopin (6.30 and 9 pm)
CHIJMES, Singapore
7 May 2021
Candlelight Concerts: Chopin (6.30 and 9 pm)
Victoria Concert Hall, Singapore
[SOLD OUT]
7, 8, 9 April 2021
Candlelight Concerts: Chopin (6.30 and 9 pm)
Marina Bay Sands Theatre, Singapore
10, 11, 15, 16 March 2021
Candlelight Concerts: Chopin (6.30 and 9 pm)
Victoria Theatre, Singapore
[SOLD OUT]
10, 11, 18, 19 February 2021
Candlelight Concerts: Chopin (6.30 and 9 pm)
Victoria Concert Hall and Marina Bay Sands Theatre, Singapore
[SOLD OUT]
Nov 2020-March 2021
With Clare Chong, wweish, Chew Shaw En
A digital project funded by the National Arts Council Singapore Digital Presentation Grant
2020
November 2020
Pianist for Digital Presentation of Composers' Society of Singapore Open Call
CSS YouTube Page
October 27, 2020
Forum Series: In Search of Singaporean Sounds: Navigating Musical and Cultural Confluences
With Chen Zhangyi
Steven Baxter Recital Studio, Singapore
August 19, 2020
Build-A-Bridge Project | HERE! Arts Carnival
Co-organised by the National University of Singapore Centre for the Arts
http://cfa.nus.edu.sg
August 14, 2020
Cello Recital with Chen Yibai [CANCELLED]
Cello pieces by Franck, Stravinsky, Beethoven, Faure
Victoria Concert Hall, Singapore
July 16, 2020
Online Webinar: A Tale of Two Cities within a World of This Order
With panelists Huzir Sulaiman, Kajeng Wong, Ruby Yeung, moderated by Phan Ming Yen
April 17-18, 2020
A Night at The Moon [CANCELLED]
With Jade Shiyu Tan and Planeswalker (Mervin Wong)
THE MOON, Singapore
April 7, 2020
Forum Series: Navigating Musical and Cultural Confluences [POSTPONED]
With Chen Zhangyi
Steven Baxter Recital Studio, Singapore
February 27, 2020
UK Tour: King's Lynn Coffee Concert
Ravel, Mozart, Liszt, Li
King's Lynn Town Hall, Kings Lynn, Cambridgeshire
February 25 & 26, 2020
UK Tour: A Rojak Night of Music
With Windson Liong and Ben Wong
1901 Arts Club, London, UK
February 22, 2020
UK Tour: A Rojak Night of Music
With Windson Liong and Ben Wong
Liutaio, Cambridge, UK
February 15, 2020
UK TOUR: Rachmaninov Piano Concerto no. 2
With the Cambridge University Orchestra conducted by Jac van Steen
West Road Concert Hall, Cambridge, UK
2019
October 28, 2019
im/expressionism - solo piano recital
Ravel, Berg, Schoenberg, Scriabin
Esplanade Concourse, Singapore
October 15, 2019
Mirrors - solo piano recital
Crumb, Ravel, Kapustin
National Technological University, Singapore
October 5 & 6, 2019
Books, Bier and Musik
With Jade Tan Shi Yu in collaboration with Books & Bier and THE MOON
THE MOON, Singapore
September 5, 2019
National Day Reception
Premiere of original arrangements of the Singapore and UK national anthems
British Museum, London, UK
July 20, 2019
National University of Singapore Commencement
Ridgeview Residences, Singapore
June 19, 2019
3 Flutes, 1 Piano
With Cheryl Lim
Sidney Sussex Chapel, Cambridge, UK
June 16, 2019
Mary Bevan Recital - solo piano
Ravel, Kapustin, Qian, Li, Mozart, Liszt, Moszkowski
Lee Hall, Cambridge, UK
May 11, 2019
Wolfson Lunchtime Recital
With Jade Tan Shi Yu
Lee Hall, Cambridge, UK
March 1, 2019
An Evening of Chamber Music
Brahms Piano Quartet no. 1 in G minor
Pembroke Old Library, Cambridge, UK
Feb 20, 2019
Cambridge University Music Society Concerto Competition
Awarded the First Prize with Rachmaninov Piano Concerto no. 2
West Road Concert Hall, Cambridge, UK
2018
September 20, 2018
Skandalkonzert
With Jade Tan Shi Yu
Zouk Club, Singapore
Jun 4, 2018
Ravel Piano Trio
With Antonia Rössler and Irene Kok
Musikgesellschaft, Vienna, Austria
Jun 3, 2018
Ravel Piano Trio
With Antonia Rössler and Irene Kok
MdW, Vienna, Austria
May 29, 2018
Klassenmatinee
With Antonia Rössler and Irene Kok
Vienna, Austria
May 28-Jun 3, 2018
Mel Bonis Festival for French Chamber Music
With Antonia Rössler and Irene Kok
Vienna, Austria
Apr 19, 2018
Mozart, Bizet, Smetana, Lavignac
Piano Olymp
Hamburg, Germany
Jan 7, 2018
Mendelssohn Trio no. 2 in C minor, op. 66
With musicians from Four Seasons Winter Workshop
East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, United States
Jan 6, 2018
Faure Quartet no. 2 in G minor, op. 45
With musicians from Four Seasons Winter Workshop
East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, United States
2017
Dec 21, 2017
Silent Disco
Mozart, Chopin, Liszt, Kapustin, Sakamoto, Li
Art Science Museum, Singapore
September 3, 2017
Metropolitan Festival Orchestra
Rachmaninov Piano Concerto no. 2 in C minor
Esplanade Concert Hall, Singapore
May 3, 2017
Brahms Trio no. 2 in C major, op. 87
With musicians from the Yale School of Music
Whitney Humanities Center, New Haven, CT, United States
April 17, 2017
Piano Recital
Liszt, Beethoven, Ravel
Sprague Hall, New Haven, CT, United States
March 2, 2017
Vista Concert
With musicians from the Yale School of Music
Sprague Hall, New Haven, CT, United States
2016
August 21, 2016
Dichterleben: A Poet's Life
With Shuxiang Yang, Violin
Victoria Concert Hall, Singapore
July 3-August 14, 2016
Norfolk Chamber Music Fellowship
Norfolk, CT, United States
April 27, 2016
Brahms Piano Quintet in F minor, op. 34
With musicians from the Yale School of Music
The Connecticut Hospice, Branford, CT, United States
March 25, 2016
Budapest Klassiche-Philharmonic
Beethoven Piano Concerto no. 2 in B-flat major and Saint Saens Piano Concerto no. 2 in G minor
Annenkirche, Dresden, Germany
February 13, 2016
Violin-Piano Recital and Outreach
With Suliman Tekalli, Violin
Chodae Church and New York Music School, NJ, United States
February 3, 2016
Piano Recital
Bach, Schubert, Bartok, Li, Chopin
Sprague Hall, New Haven, CT, United States
Jan 3-10, 2016
Four Seasons WInter Workshop
Dvorak Quintet in A major, op. 81 and Mozart Sonata for Piano Four-Hands, K. 521
Greenville, NC, United States
2015
September 30, 2015
Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music Orchestra Tour
Beethoven Piano Concerto no. 2 in B-flat major
Hong Kong City Hall, Hong Kong
September 28, 2015
Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music Orchestra Tour
Beethoven Piano Concerto no. 2 in B-flat major
Macau
September 25, 2015
Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music Orchestra
Beethoven Piano Concerto no. 2 in B-flat major
Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music Concert Hall, Singapore
July 2, 2015
SG50+ Conference
Chen Zhangyi - Walks on Water for Piano and Pierrot Ensemble
Shangri-la Hotel, Singapore