– The 3rd place in the Vladivostok International Competition for Young Musicians 2013
– The 1st prize in the Band Music Competition of Asia in 2016
– The 3rd place in Vandoren Emerging Competition 2017
– The 2nd place King’s Peak International Music Competition 2021
– The 2nd place in the American Virtuoso International Music Competition 2022

Tianyi (Tony) Shen is an outstanding young clarinetist currently completing his Master of Music degree at Yale School of Music under the guidance of David Schifrin.

Born in Tianjin, China, Mr Shen first studied clarinet in 2010 with his grandfather Zhijian Wang, and was admitted to Central Conservatory of Music Middle School following an outstanding results. He studied with Professor Yuanfu Huang, President of the Chinese Clarinet Association and a jury member of the international Clarinet Competition. He went on to attend the Curtis Institute of Music where his professors were Ricardo Morales, Anthony McGill and Michael Rusinek. He completed his undergraduate studies in 2020, and will complete his Master’s of Music program at Yale School of Music in spring 2023.

His exceptional talent was noticed early, and lead to special performances at the age of 17 with the Israel Philharmonic on tour under the baton of Zubin Mehta at the Beijing NCPA, and again for the opening of the Changsha Concert Hall in 2016.  He has also performed on tour with the Russian National Orchestra, Brno Philharmonic and Armenian National Philharmonic, as well as many Chinese ensembles. He frequently plays with the New Haven Philharmonic as substitute associate principal.

Tony Shen has been noticed by the international judges at several competitions, and was awarded the 3rd place in Vandoren Emerging Competition 2017, and the first prize in the Band Music Competition of Asia in 2016. He was also awarded 2nd place in the American Virtuoso International Music Competition 2022, and has been invited to perform at the Carnegie Hall in New York in the following summer.

His future plans include a recital tour and debut recording during summer and autumn 2023.

Tony’s playing has been praised for its exceptional sensitivity, in addition to his noteworthy excellent technique. He has a keen awareness of the many different styles of clarinet performance and of clarinets, barrels, and mouthpieces from around the world. His instrument of choice is the … clarinet. He also prefers to use the basset clarinet for Mozart Clarinet Concerto.

He currently resides in New Haven near Yale where he participates in a diverse range of solo and chamber music activities while continuing his academic and musical studies, towards his Master of Music of Art.