Dr. Neilson Chen a native of Taiwan is a highly sought-after recitalist and collaborative pianist, whose dazzling technique and thoughtful interpretations have been praised by the L.A. Times as “stunning.” Currently, Dr. Chen is a Collaborative Pianist at The Orchestra Now (TŌN) and Bard College-Conservatory of Music as well as a Collaborative Pianist in Residence at Meadowmount School of Music.

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The recipient of two Master of Music degrees in both solo piano and collaborative piano from Taipei National University of the Arts and University of Texas at Austin, as well as Doctoral of Musical Arts degree in collaborative piano from Arizona State University, Neilson has studied under esteemed pedagogue such as Constance Lee, Anne Epperson and Dr. Andrew Campbell. Over the course of his career, Neilson has been the recipient of many prestigious honors and awards including Best Collaborative Pianist of Taiwanese  Art Song Competition,

Kuan-Du Music Festival and the winner of inaugural duo competition at Music Academy of the West in 2019.

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As an active recitalist, chamber music musician and collaborative pianist, Performing extensively throughout the United States and internationally, Neilson has concertized in Germany, Luxemburg, France, Ireland, Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan. Honored to have performed in renowned venues, he appeared at the National Concert Hall in Taiwan in conjunction with the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, a performance of Tchaikovsky Piano Trio in A minor, Op.50 “In Memory of A Great Artist” on the concert series Tempe Center for the Arts’ Performance with a View and in 2023 was the pianist for Bard College’s performances at Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts. Recent collaborations with prestigious artists include Joshua Bell, Luosha Fang, Janet Sung, Raman Ramakrishnan and members of the Juilliard String Quartet. As a staff pianist for summer music festivals, worldwide appearances have included Saarburg International Music Festival in Germany, the Vianden Music Festival and School in Luxemburg, Rocky Ridge Music Center in Colorado and the Kathaumixw Choir Festival in Canada. 

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​Besides these accomplishments, Neilson is highly active in his community and passionate about promoting new works by a new generation of composers. The recent appearances were for the premiere of “unter soreles vigele ” by Judith Shatin in 2022 and “The Stories We Tell ” micro-operas by Native American composers at the Grand Canyon Music Festival in 2016. Committed to fostering the talent of younger musicians, Neilson is esteemed by many musicians as a colleague and a mentor.