British Franco-Chinese violinist and composer Laure Chan bridges performance, composition and cross-cultural collaboration. She has been described as “a mesmerizing stage presence with the rare ability to draw the attention of the audience into her performance” (Isabelle van Keulen) and “an instinctive musician with a feeling for what is right” (Maxim Vengerov).
Hailed as a young star by BBC Music Magazine and on Classic FM's 30 under 30 list, Laure has performed as a soloist and ensemble player throughout the UK, Europe, Asia and America in concert halls including the Royal Albert Hall, Berlin Philharmonie, Concertgebouw, Carnegie Hall and the Shanghai Oriental Arts Centre. In 2025, she was selected as a Creative Project Development Artist in Residence at the Verbier Festival, supported by a grant to develop new artistic projects.
She has gained numerous awards including 1st prize at the 2025 Berlin Grand Prize Virtuoso International Music Competition, 1st prize at the 2023 International Golden Classical Music Awards in New York, The Century Fund Prize / Richard III Prize in 2018 for solo baroque violin at the Royal College of Music, 1st prize at the 2015 Paris Grand Prize Virtuoso International Music Competition, the 2010 Music Director’s Award of the Oxford Philharmonic and the John McAslan violin prize at the Royal Academy of Music from 2007-2011.
Laure has made multiple appearances on radio and TV over the years including LBC News Radio, Norwegian Radio, BBC Radio 3 - In Tune, BBC Radio Scotland, BBC Radio 4, BBC Radio 6, BBC Sounds, NTS Radio, Magic Classical (previously Scala Radio), Times Radio, on Classic FM featured as a "Young Classical Star" and on CCTV (China) and BBC News. In June 2021, Laure became the host of her own radio show “Classical and Beyond” as part of Classical Turquoise Radio. The programme featured 8 episodes exploring a variety of musical styles and cultures inviting special guest artists from around the world. You can listen to all episodes on Laure’s soundcloud.
She has released EPs and albums featuring original compositions and works of the classical repertoire. Her own music draws inspiration from a wide range of musical traditions, exploring cultural and stylistic exchange. Her debut album Tribute to Bach released in March 2021 features staple works by the composer as well as her original compositions, all drawing inspiration from J.S. Bach’s music. The album gained hundreds of thousands of streams as an independent release and was widely featured in the press and radio stations such as on Violinist.com and the BBC. Her second album Schumann Violin Concerto was recorded at Abbey Road Studios with the Sinfonia Perdita conducted by Daniel Hogan. The album also features her original composition Lost in Translation, which was featured on The Strad on its release day on 1 March 2024. Laure was featured in Billboard's Grammy Contenders Issue 2025 for her latest recording and orchestrated arrangement of Lost in Translation with the Curve Ensemble on the Bigo & Twigetti label, published by Bucks Music Group.
Laure has also performed on the baroque violin performing Vivaldi’s Four Seasons and Bach’s Double Concerto with period ensembles at the Harwich and Brandenburg festivals. She has played with the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, Florilegium and the Gabrieli Consort & Players performing with conductors such as Sir Roger Norrington and Marin Alsop.
Beyond the traditional classical realm, Laure has performed alongside Harry Styles, Jules Buckley, Ed Sheeran, Stormzy Max Richter, Yussef Dayes, Sigur Rós, Florence The Machine, Gustavo Dudamel and Tyler, The Creator, She has collaborated as an artist with renowned names in the fashion industry such as Vogue, Louis Vuitton, Burberry, Vivienne Westwood and Claudie Pierlot.
Laure has been invited to give masterclasses at the University of Costa Rica and University of the Republic in Uruguay. She was a former Ambassador and Tutor for Nicola Benedetti’s charity The Benedetti Foundation. Laure has also been invited as a guest speaker at her alma mater, the Royal College of Music, on the topic of Healthy Creative Careers.
Born in London, Laure began the violin at the age of five at the Royal Academy of Music in London studying with sisters Laura and Eleanor Stanford and continuing at the Junior Department with Yumi Sasaki. She joined the Royal College of Music as a Scholar in 2012 studying with Itzhak Rashkovsky, Radu Blidar and Gabrielle Lester, as well as Lucy Russell on the baroque violin. She has gained a Bachelor of Music, a Master in Performance and an Artist Diploma all with first class honours. She has received guidance from great violinists such as Maxim Vengerov, Pinchas Zukerman, Nicola Benedetti and Isabelle van Keulen.
Laure would like to thank the Hattori Foundation, Donald Paterson Fund, EMI Music Sound Foundation, Dorothy Croft Trust, John Lewis Partnership, The Countess of Munster Musical Trust, Gandar Dower Fund, Help Musicians UK, The Royal Society of Musicians of Great Britain, Talent Unlimited, the Florian Leonhard Fellowship programme, the Beare's International Violin Society, and the Verbier Festival for their generous support.