Sean Chen won the won the Crystal Award at the 2013 Cliburn International Piano Competition, becoming the first American to reach the finals since 1997. His repertoire ranges from Bach and Beethoven to Scriabin and Elliot Carter. He’s also a proponent of contemporary music, performing new works by today’s composers. Last year International Piano magazine named Chen "One To Watch."
He's in Rapid City for a Saturday evening recital at the Performing Arts Center. The recital is a joint fundraiser for the Black Hills Symphony Orchestra and the Rapid City Concert. He joined Dakota Midday and discussed the importance of competitions in establishing a career.