Yihan Chen is a mesmerizing master of the pipa (ancient four-string Chinese lute). She studied with pipa masters Wu Junsheng, Wang Fandi and Liu Dehai, and graduated from the China Conservatory of Music, Beijing, in 1991.

Critical praise for Yihan Chen includes: "Utterly graceful playing . . . delectable.” (Washington Post); "seemed to bring some of the energy of flamenco and even modern rock guitar playing to her intricate plucked figurations” (Kansas City Star); and “one of the world’s reigning virtuosos of the pipa . . . transfixed her listeners” (Charleston, SC City Paper).

She has performed throughout the United States and appeared at many major international festivals in China, France, Portugal, Poland, Canada, Japan and Italy, such as Spoleto Festival USA 2012, Lincoln Center Festival, Festival de création musicale de Radio France, Le Festival Avignon, Le Festival Musique en Scène, Encontros Acarte '98 Portugal, La Cité de la Musique, Lotus Festival, Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra’s New Music Festival, Lowell Folk Festival, Montana Folk Festival, Richmond Folk Festival, Skaneateles Festival, ChamberFest Cleveland, et al. She has appeared at Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, the Library of Congress, Merkin Concert Hall and other leading venues.

Ms. Chen has collaborated with internationally-renowned composers such as Chen Yi, Zhou Long, Chen Qigang, Bright Sheng, Eric Moe, Fang Man, Ruo Huang, and Lei Liang. She has toured as soloist with the Hua Xia Chamber Ensemble (Beijing) and Music From China (New York City). Currently she is the first chair pipa of the Zhonghua Chinese Orchestra in LA. The Music Director of Reverie Youth Chinese Orchestra and pipa instructor of South Coast Chinese Orchestra.

She has also performed with the Carpe Diem and Lydian String Quartets; Alex Skolnick (the lead guitarist of the thrash metal band Testament); Christopher Garcia (percussionist); Luis Villegas and Paul Galbraith (guitarists); Ground Works; Civitas Ensemble; Alarm Will Sound; Prism Quartet; Voices of Music; et al. Her performances have been critically acclaimed in The Washington Post a few times.

In May 2025, she was invited to join the Asian Art Association Singapore (Chinese Traditional Instruments) as a Lifetime member and was appointed as a judge for the World Chinese Music Competition 2025.

The Brahmin and Three Images of Laughter (Hugo)
Time to Listen (Ellipsis Arts)
Zhou Long—Tales From the Cave and Hua Xia (Delos)
Qigang Chen (Virgin Classics, 2006)
Planetary Coalition (Alex Skolnick & various artist, 2014)
Jin Yin (Civitas Ensemble, 2014)
Uncanny Affable Machines (Eric Moe, 2018)

Top awards for Chinese music performance at the ART Cup Chinese International Music Competition in 1989 and the Freedom International Chinese Music Competition in 1995