Richard Lin has gained international prominence since winning the Gold Medal at the 2018 International Violin Competition of Indianapolis. Following his June 2022 recital debut at Carnegie Hall’s Stern Auditorium, New York Concert Review wrote: “Richard Lin. Remember the name. For he has everything required to take the world by storm.”
Lin has collaborated with numerous distinguished orchestras and performed at major concert venues worldwide. Notable engagements include appearances with the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra under Norichika Iimori at Suntory Hall. Additional orchestral collaborations include the NDR Radiophilharmonie; the symphony orchestras of Indianapolis, Phoenix, North Carolina, Shanghai, Sichuan, and Singapore; the philharmonic orchestras of Poznań, Łódź, Polish Baltic, Nagoya, Taiwan, and Oklahoma City; Hong Kong Sinfonietta; National Taiwan Symphony Orchestra; Yomiuri Nippon Symphony Orchestra; Orchestra Ensemble Kanazawa; Munich Chamber Orchestra; Amadeus Polish Chamber Orchestra; and the Royal Chamber Orchestra of Wallonia, among others.
He is also a member of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, reflecting his distinguished presence on the international chamber music stage.
He has served with distinction as Guest Concertmaster for premier global ensembles, including the Houston Symphony, the Taiwan Philharmonic (NSO), and the Hong Kong Sinfonietta. Balancing the commanding presence of a virtuoso with the collaborative nuance of an ensemble player, Lin excels at fostering cohesive section playing, precise communication, and uncompromising musical excellence.
His growing discography reflects both breadth and artistic depth. Recent releases include an Azica Records album with pianist Thomas Hoppe featuring his Carnegie Hall recital program (Vitali, Richard Strauss, Corigliano, and Frolov), and a Fontec recording of violin concertos by Beethoven, Bartók, and Brahms with the Sendai Philharmonic under Pascal Verrot. He has also recorded the complete Brahms Sonatas for Piano and Violin with his brother, pianist Robert Lin.
A committed educator, Lin serves on the faculty of the National Taipei University of Education and gives masterclasses worldwide.
Beyond Indianapolis, Lin has garnered top honors at major international competitions, including First Prize at the Sendai International Violin Competition; Third Prize at the Joseph Joachim International Violin Competition in Hannover; and Second Prize at both the Singapore International Violin Competition and the Michael Hill International Violin Competition.
Born in Phoenix, Arizona, and raised in Taiwan, Lin began violin studies at age four and made his orchestral debut at eleven, performing Saint-Saëns’ Violin Concerto No. 3 with the Taipei Symphony Orchestra. He is a graduate of the Curtis Institute of Music and The Juilliard School, where he studied with Aaron Rosand and Lewis Kaplan.
Lin performs on the 1714 Antonio Stradivarius “Joachim-Ma,” generously loaned by the YAGEO Foundation, Taiwan.
Away from the concert stage, he enjoys exploring history, biology, and the art and craftsmanship of fine watchmaking.