9:36 a.m., July 22, 2009----Xing Chen is a man of many talents. Not only is he a University of Delaware graduate student in physics, he is an accomplished pianist, and last month he was selected as one of the winners of the 24th International Young Artist Piano Competition.

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As such, Chen has been invited to perform in the State of the Arts Cultural Series at the Dean Acheson Auditorium of the U.S. Department of State at 12:30 p.m., Wednesday, Aug. 19. He will play a 30-minute program, and another winner also will perform for 30 minutes.

“Winning competitions is always thrilling,” Chen said, “and winning an international competition was almost unreal to me as a 'part time' pianist. What I like most about competitions is that I always learn so much through the process no matter what the results. It's been a crucial part of my piano studying, and I hope my performance can get to a next level after this event.”

Chen is a graduate of the University of Science and Technology of China, and his adviser at UD is physics professor John Q Xiao. Chen has a pending patent in nanomaterials fabrication.

He has studied piano with Shiyan Wang at Sichuan Conservatory of Music in China since he was six years old and is now studying as a merit student with Marie-Christine Delbeau, associate professor of music at UD.

He was first prize winner in the National Art and Culture Winter Camp Piano Competition in Beijing and in the Delaware Contest for Young Musicians and in the UD Concerto Competition. He performed with violinist Xiang Gao, associate professor of music, at the Chinese Embassy this year.

Anyone interested in attending Chen's recital should contact him at [cx@udel.edu] by Saturday, July 25, as guests need pre-clearance for security.