I am honored to announce that my recording of Florence Price's Piano Concerto, released on Naxos Records in June 2025, has been submitted for GRAMMY® consideration in the Best Classical Instrumental Solo category. This submission represents not only a personal milestone in my recording career but also an opportunity to bring greater recognition to the extraordinary legacy of Florence Beatrice Price, the first African American woman to have her symphony performed by a major American orchestra.
GRAMMY® For Your Consideration campaign poster for Han Chen's Florence Price Piano Concerto recording
The Historical Significance of Florence Price
Florence Price (1887-1953) stands as one of the most important yet historically underrepresented composers in American classical music. Born in Little Rock, Arkansas, Price overcame the dual barriers of racial and gender discrimination to become a pioneering figure in classical composition. Her Piano Concerto in One Movement, composed in 1934, represents a masterful synthesis of European classical traditions with African American musical elements, including spirituals, blues, and ragtime.
Price's music was largely forgotten for decades after her death, with many of her manuscripts discovered only in 2009 in an abandoned house in Illinois. This remarkable find included the complete score of her Piano Concerto, which had been presumed lost. The rediscovery of Price's works has sparked a renaissance of interest in her compositions, leading to numerous recordings and performances worldwide.
Artistic Excellence and Critical Acclaim
Our recording, featuring conductor John Jeter and the Malmö Opera Orchestra, has received exceptional critical praise from leading classical music publications. BBC Music Magazine praised the "heart-on-sleeve playing from soloist Han Chen [that] captures the music's irresistible spirit," while The Strad noted that "Price's Piano Concerto, with its jolly ragtime finale, is given a splendidly idiomatic performance by Han Chen." Pizzicato magazine highlighted how "the impeccable interpretation allows the concerto to emerge in its full grandeur."
These reviews underscore the technical and interpretive challenges of Price's concerto, which demands both virtuosic pianism and deep understanding of the African American musical traditions that inform the work. The concerto's three movements showcase Price's sophisticated compositional voice, from the lyrical opening movement through the contemplative slow movement to the exuberant ragtime-influenced finale.
The GRAMMY® Submission: A Case for Recognition
This GRAMMY® submission represents several compelling factors that distinguish this recording in the Best Classical Instrumental Solo category:
Historical Importance
This recording contributes to the essential work of expanding the classical canon to include voices that have been historically marginalized. Price's Piano Concerto deserves recognition not as a curiosity but as a masterwork that stands alongside the great piano concertos of the 20th century.
Artistic Merit
The recording demonstrates the highest standards of musical interpretation and technical execution. Working with conductor John Jeter, whose expertise in African American classical repertoire is internationally recognized, we sought to honor both the European classical tradition and the distinctly American elements that make Price's music so compelling.
Cultural Impact
By bringing Price's music to international audiences through Naxos Records' global distribution, this recording serves the broader mission of diversifying classical music programming and introducing new generations to this remarkable composer's work.
Technical Excellence
Recorded with the Malmö Opera Orchestra in Sweden, the album benefits from world-class production values and the orchestra's commitment to exploring underrepresented repertoire. The recording captures both the intimate chamber music qualities of Price's writing and the full orchestral grandeur of her most dramatic passages.
Personal Reflection on Price's Music
Performing Florence Price's Piano Concerto has been one of the most meaningful experiences of my career. Her music speaks with a unique voice that bridges different musical worlds – the formal structures of European classicism, the emotional depth of African American spirituals, and the rhythmic vitality of ragtime and blues. As a pianist committed to expanding the repertoire and championing underrepresented composers, I feel a deep responsibility to present Price's music with the same care and attention we give to the established masterworks.
Price's concerto is not merely historically significant; it is genuinely beautiful music that deserves to be heard and celebrated. Her melodic gift, harmonic sophistication, and structural mastery place her among the finest American composers of her generation. The fact that her race and gender prevented her from receiving the recognition she deserved during her lifetime makes our current efforts to champion her work all the more important.
The Broader Context: Diversity in Classical Music
This GRAMMY® submission comes at a crucial time for classical music, as the industry continues to grapple with questions of representation and inclusion. The Recording Academy has made significant strides in recent years to recognize a more diverse range of artists and repertoire. A GRAMMY® nomination for Florence Price's music would send a powerful message about the Academy's commitment to honoring excellence wherever it is found, regardless of the composer's background.
My own journey as a pianist has given me particular insight into the challenges faced by artists from underrepresented communities. Through my recordings and performances, I strive to build bridges between different musical traditions and to demonstrate that classical music is enriched, not diminished, by embracing diverse voices.
Looking Forward
Regardless of the GRAMMY® outcome, I am committed to continuing my advocacy for Florence Price's music and that of other underrepresented composers. This recording is part of a larger movement within classical music to expand our understanding of what constitutes the "canon" and to ensure that future generations have access to the full richness of our musical heritage.
I am grateful to Naxos Records for their support of this project, to conductor John Jeter and the Malmö Opera Orchestra for their artistry, and to all the critics and listeners who have embraced this recording. Most importantly, I am honored to serve as an advocate for Florence Price's extraordinary musical legacy.
GRAMMY® voting is conducted by Recording Academy members, and I am proud to be part of this peer-recognition process as a voting member of the Academy's 2025 New Member Class.
As we await the nomination announcements, I encourage classical music lovers to discover Florence Price's remarkable body of work. Her music deserves not just historical recognition but active performance and recording. In championing her Piano Concerto, we honor not only a great composer but also the ongoing work of making classical music truly representative of all the voices that have contributed to its rich tapestry.