A Scholar's Journey
Recital by Yuqiao Chen & Sharing by Chris Craker
20th June 2026 | 15.00 hrs.
Steinway Thailand proudly presents “A Scholar’s Journey” — an inspiring afternoon of music and conversation featuring promising young pianist Yuqiao Chen and renowned multi-Grammy-nominated producer Chris Craker, founder of Karma Sounds.
The afternoon opens with a recital by Yuqiao Chen, showcasing his artistry and dedication through a program of Bach, Beethoven and Chopin, followed by a special conversation with Chris Craker reflecting on Yuqiao’s journey from a piano student in Thailand to a full scholarship recipient at the Royal College of Music in London, as well as his development into a multi-million-stream recording artist under Chris’s guidance.
Join us as Yuqiao and Chris share insights into musical development, mentorship, and the journey of building a successful music career and educational path. We warmly invite music students, aspiring scholars, educators, and parents to an afternoon that is both highly entertaining and motivational for all.
recital program
The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book II:
Prelude and Fugue in B minor, BWV 893
Johann Sebastian Bach
Piano Sonata No. 18 in E-flat major,
Op. 31 No. 3, “The Hunt”
I. Allegro
Ludwig van Beethoven
Waltz in A-flat major, Op. 42
Études, Op. 10 Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Piano Sonata No. 2 in B-flat minor, Op. 35
Berceuse in D-flat major, Op. 57
Frédéric Chopin
About yuqiao chen
Yuqiao Chen is an eighteen-year-old pianist whose musical journey has taken him from Chengdu and Beijing to Nepal, Thailand, and renowned international stages including Paris, Vienna, and Berlin. His story reflects early promise, resilience, international recognition, and a deep commitment to musical expression.
Yuqiao Chen was born in China in 2007. He began learning piano at the age of five under the guidance of his first teacher, Youlan Wang, who taught him during the first three years of his piano journey in Chengdu, China.
After moving to Beijing with his family in 2015, Yuqiao continued his studies with Tong Shen, the principal piano teacher at The Affiliated High School of China Conservatory of Music. From 2016 to 2017, his family lived in Nepal for nearly two years. During this period, Yuqiao was largely self-taught, receiving only occasional support from his former teacher, Mrs. Wang.
In 2018, after moving to Thailand, Yuqiao resumed formal training with Irina Novikova, Head of Keyboard at Shrewsbury International School. For the past three years, he has been studying with renowned pianist and pedagogue Artas Balakauskas.
Yuqiao Released 21 singles and EPs on Apple Music and Spotify (produced by Karma Sound Ltd. with Grammy-nominated producer Chris Craker), frequently ranked Top 10 on Apple Music recommendation charts and reached #1 on Sleep Music chart (August 2025).
Besides receiving a full four-year scholarship to study Piano Performance at the Royal College of Music in London, Yuqiao has also received offers from leading conservatoires including the Manhattan School of Music, Royal Academy of Music, Royal Northern College of Music, Guildhall Music School, Trinity, and Birmingham.
about chris craker
Chris Craker is a rare animal in the music business. He combines a life of experience at the very highest level as an Artist, Record Producer, Record Company Executive, Label Owner, Composer, Conductor, Studio Owner, Artist Manager, Author, Mentor, Business Consultant and Teacher.
As a multi-Grammy nominated producer, Chris Craker has operated at the very forefront of the music industry for over 40 years. He notably produced the soundtrack for Director Christopher Nolan’s movie “Interstellar”, with the Oscar winning score composer Hans Zimmer, as well as producing the 2017 Annie Award Winning score for “The Little Prince” for Paramount, directed by Mark Osborne of “Kung Fu Panda” fame. During the infamous 2020 Covid lockdown, Chris remotely co-produced the soundtrack to Harry Gregson-Williams‘ colourful score for Disney’s “Mulan” from the control room of Karma Studios, Thailand. And, in 2022, he co-scored and co-produced (with his son Richard Craker), the soundtrack to a brand new documentary directed by Roger Christian, entitled “Galaxy” – The Making of Star Wars”. More recently, he also composed and produced the score for the new George Michael biopic “Portrait Of The Artist”, directed by Simon Napier-Bell, which won the Mii Cannes Award for Best Music Documentary, 2024.
Chris has produced in excess of 550 classical, jazz and ambient albums and founded a number of independent record labels (notably Black Box and Onyx), in addition to being Senior Vice President of Sony Masterworks in New York and London, overseeing Sony Classical and BMG Classics.
The owner of Karma Studios, Chris now splits his time between Thailand, London and Los Angeles, undertaking high profile production, composition, conducting, recording projects, live shows, mentorship and speaking engagements, alongside his duties as a founder of the world’s fastest growing Health & Wellness record label, ‘Karma Sounds’.
LOCATION
Steinway & Sons Showroom
#1F-04 Gaysorn Center, 1st Floor
999 Phloen Chit Rd., Lumpini, Bangkok
For your information and etiquette
- This is a free-seating event.
- Strictly no liquids or food should be brought into the showroom.
- Kindly maintain decorum upon entry and be conscious of your belongings (e.g., bags, rings, watches, cameras) around the instruments.
- During the performance, kindly wait for the conclusion of a piece or an intermission to enter the audience seating area.
- Parking validation has to be done directly with the Gaysorn Concierge.