Winner of the 2004 Sydney International Piano Competition, New Zealand pianist John Chen returns home to present an all-French programme of chefs-d’oeuvre by Francis Poulenc, Henri Duparc, César Franck, Gabriel Fauré, and Camille Saint-Saëns.

Tickets are now available in person (cash only) at The Good Life, 160 The Strand, Whakatane, and online at www.trybooking.com/nz/XYG.

Since this is likely to be a popular concert, Flexiticket holders are advised to use them at The Good Life to get admission tickets.  You can also use them at the door.

Remember that there is a surcharge on tickets purchased at the door, so it pays to book.

Here are two reviews of John Chen's Wellington concert on his current tour of New Zealand.

By Elizabeth Kerr: https://www.fivelines.nz/articles/pianist-john-chen-on-tour-french-masterpieces-played-with-formidable-dynamism

 Middle C: https://middle-c.org/2025/06/eblouissant-john-chens-recital-of-french-piano-music/

This concert is approximately 100 minutes including a 20-minute interval.

New Zealand pianist John Chen launched his career by winning the 2004 Sydney International Piano Competition, where he also won prizes for his interpretations of Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert, Chamber music, and Concerto. Since then, he has performed across Europe, Asia, North America, Africa, and extensively in Australia and New Zealand, including performances at significant festivals such as Klavierfestival Ruhr and Singapore International Piano Festival. He has performed concertos with most of the major orchestras in Australia and New Zealand as well as among others, the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, Hamburger Symphoniker, and the Hong Kong Philharmonic. Notable conductors he has collaborated with include Vladimir Ashkenazy, Jeffrey Kahane, Janos Furst, Christopher Seaman, Christoph Poppen, and Oleg Caetani.

A passion for Twentieth Century French music has led him to record CDs of the complete solo piano works of Henri Dutilleux for Naxos, and a selection of Debussy and Ravel for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

Mr Chen began piano studies in Auckland at the age of three. He received his Master of Music from the University of Auckland under Rae de Lisle and an Artist Diploma at Colburn Conservatory in Los Angeles under John Perry. He further studied at the University of Southern California, and with Volker Banfield in Hamburg. Mr Chen currently lives in Kampala, Uganda, where he works as school chaplain of Acacia International School.

Lantern Decorating Workshop – Light Up Whakatāne

📍 Venue: REAP, 21 Pyne St, Whakatāne
📅 Date: Saturday, 28 June
🕒 Session Times: 10:00am, 11:15am, or 12:30pm
🎟 Cost: Free
👥 All ages welcome – children must be accompanied by an adult
🎨 Presented by: Arts Whakatāne

Join us for a fun, hands-on workshop where whānau can decorate their very own light-up paper lantern to carry in the Light Up Whakatāne Parade on Saturday, 5 July.

Led by talented local artists Tania Akehurst, Abby Bakker and Sue Whale – part of the creative team behind the Trust Horizon Light Up Whakatāne Festival – this workshop offers a fun and relaxed opportunity to add your personal touch to the festival.

This is a drop-in event running across three sessions. No bookings required – just turn up and get creating!

Join us at the Twilight Variety Concert, the final event of this year's Summer Arts Festival on Saturday, 1 March from 5pm - 7pm.

We have a wonderful line up of amazingly talented local singers, musicians, drummers and dancers. Lance Fuller has rehearsed a very special performance (see picture).

Amphitheatre, Whakatāne riverbank (near the skatepark)
Bring a cushion/folding chair and picnic
Koha/donation

If wet, we will hold the concert on Sunday, 2 March at 5pm