Pianist Gwhyneth Chen, born in Taipei, Taiwan, began to study piano at an early age. She manifested remarkable talent and was regarded as a child prodigy in music. At the age of ten, she came to the United States to pursue advanced studies under two great piano masters, Robert Turner and Aube Tzerko. Being modest and receptive to advice, she gradually became even more proficient. At around the age of fifteen, she won both the early youth and youth championships in national piano competitions. Though she entered the competition as a younger contestant, she was able to interpret an extremely difficult piece of music easily and freely without a great deal of effort. The judges were amazed as they admired her exquisite musical expertise. Her teacher, Robert Turner, praised her, saying that she plays very difficult pieces with great ease. His comment serves to show how perfect and flawless her skills were.

After graduating from high school, she received a full scholarship to the Julliard School of Music in New York City. In addition to her studies, she participated in many international piano contests and won numerous awards, attracting attention in international music circles. In 1993, at the age of 23, she entered the first Pogorelich Piano Competition as the youngest contestant. There were numerous participants, including many of the best pianists from around the world. The three-week period of competition was intense and demanding. Gwhyneth Chen, with matchless skill and gifted interpretation, prevailed at last and won first place. The audience, visibly touched, gave her an extremely long round of thunderous applause. The judges agreed that her music moved people so deeply because it flowed from her heart completely and was full of humanity. In addition, the well-known pianist Pogorelich, who had sponsored the contest, said he admired her performance more than any other he had ever heard in his whole life. What an exceptional honor! Her piano-playing skills, already miraculous, had reached an incredible state of complete purity and clarity.

From the time Gwhyneth began to give public performances at the age of eleven, she displayed her musical gifts by winning championships in many international piano competitions. Music has been her constant companion all these years and has given her wealth, reputation, and fame throughout the world. As one of the most distinguished pianists on the international music scene, she is often invited to give performances in various countries. However, she has lost none of her original modesty, gentleness and sincerity. She does not have the slightest bit of arrogance. She says she thinks she has benefited tremendously from studying the Buddhadharma. In 1993, after Gwhyneth Chen had won first place in an international piano competition, she took refuge with the Venerable Master Hsuan Hua, founder of the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas. Since then, she has become a complete vegetarian and studies the Buddhadharma with a quiet concentrated mind. Being a sincere Buddhist and being profoundly influenced by the Buddhadharma, Gwhyneth Chen’s music subtly reveals her self-nature. Like wandering clouds and flowing streams, it elevates the listener to a higher state. Her audiences have praised her performances, saying, “This kind of music is rarely heard in the world of mortals!”

Gwhyneth is now bringing forth a great vow to give a piano concert at the City of the Dharma Realm in Sacramento to raise funds for the construction of the International Institute for Philosophy and Ethics at the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas. Even though the Venerable Master Hua passed into stillness many years ago, Gwhyneth has not forgotten for even a day the kindness and the teachings she received from the Venerable Master. As the saying goes: “When one drinks water, one recalls the source.” She wants to use her talent in music to fulfill the wishes of the Venerable Master. These causes and conditions are supreme and difficult to encounter! We sincerely invite great virtuous ones from the ten directions to come and participate in this exceptional event, with the hope that this piano concert will be a complete success.