Projects & Commissions

Creative Initiatives & Commissioned Works
◆Projects◆Creative Initiatives

Infinite Staircase

Flagship Commissioning Project · World Premiere September 24, 2023 · National Sawdust, Brooklyn

Infinite Staircase banner

18 World Premiere works for solo piano, co-commissioned by Metropolis Ensemble and Han Chen, marking the centenary of György Ligeti (1923–2006).

Each new work is paired with one of Ligeti's 18 renowned piano études — together forming an exhilarating showcase of piano performance and composition.

Featured Reviews

“It's rare enough to catch a world premiere. It's unheard of to catch 18 in one night”— Village Voice
“A new catalog of solo piano repertoire”— I Care If You Listen
“An intriguing coterie of up-and-coming compositional talents”— New York Times

Commissioned Pieces

Nicholas Bentzfitful machinery iiShiuan ChangDigital ChantVictoria CheahÉtude: monthsJessie CoxBlack Noise CanonFjóla EvansCampanologyDavid Fulmerthe wind does…Vivian FungWhite on BlackChiayu HsuIntricate Rhythm on an Amis SongTengku IrfanColumna finitaMolly JoycePush and PullJihyun KimA Leaf Falls, the Water Ripples…Jared MillerPreludeTom Morrisonno way out but throughGity RazazFragmentation of MemorySugar Vendilgaling na ibonMeng WangShadows, trailing…Xinyang WangL’escalier du Parnasse (The Steps to Parnassus)Nina Youngit is within you that the ghosts acquire voices

Migration Music

Ongoing Interview Series · Since 2021 · Metropolis Ensemble

An ongoing interview series hosted by Han Chen exploring the impact of immigration on contemporary composers and their music.

Each episode features conversations with immigrant composers and performances of their works. The series was born from Han Chen's reflections on his own experience immigrating to the United States to study at The Juilliard School, developed during the isolation of the pandemic as a way to find new means of connecting with others.

Episodes

◆Commissioned Works◆Pieces Commissioned by Han

Beyond the projects above, Han Chen has commissioned and premiered a growing catalogue of new works from composers across the Americas and Asia — expanding the contemporary piano repertoire one piece at a time.

2026Forthcoming

Tom Morrison — New Work

Piano and electronics
Premiere Forthcoming
2026

Nina C. Young — Fern Flower

Solo piano

Commissioned by Han Chen, with generous support from the Foundation of Chinese Performing Arts, Evan and Hao-Li Loh in celebration of N.L.L. Tai's 90th birthday, and with additional support from Anonymous (2), Sara Coffou, Carol Kosterka, and Judith R. Thoyer. World premiere August 7, 2026 at NEC's Williams Hall.

2022

Jared Miller — Erode? Evolve?

Solo piano8'30"

Commissioned by Müzewest Concerts with generous support from the City of Vancouver.

2022

Alice Ping Yee Ho — The Chinese Nightingale

Solo piano11'

Commissioned by Müzewest Concerts with generous support from the City of Vancouver.