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Ray Chen set for Mozart's Fifth Violin Concerto with the ACS / Aspen Times

The violinist Ray Chen is redefining what it means to be a classical music star. Yes, Chen is a virtuoso who can don a tuxedo and inspire awe as a soloist, as he will Friday when he performs Mozart's Fifth Violin Concerto with the Aspen Chamber Symphony. Yet he also has an online following in the millions - a fan base that clicks to hear his music but also to watch his goofy videos or to see him mess around with Instagram filters.

In the often-staid world of classical music, Chen is a revolutionary personality and an ambassador to the new generation of digital natives. "I don't mind being a bit of an entertainer," Chen said in a recent phone interview from Berlin. "That was always kind of my thing." A youthful 29, Chen has a millennial fluency with social media and video production to match his world-class ability with his instrument. He has more than 2 million followers on SoundCloud and huge virtual crowds on Facebook and on Instagram. 

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