Charlie Chan
Charlie Chan (they/them) is an Australian composer, pianist, multi-instrumentalist and creative technologist with a career spanning over forty years and underscored by a lifelong commitment to creative practice, innovation & advocacy.
Innovation & Tech
In addition to their mastery of myriad musical instruments, Charlie Chan is a true digital innovator when it comes to integrating technology with the Arts, combining deep musical talent with technological innovation, entrepreneurial spirit and dynamic energy in all their projects.
Early on, Charlie recognised the potential of digital technology to both produce and promote music, influencing not just their own work but also that of others.
Charlie thrives at the nexus of technology and creativity; they’re a true believer in the critical role artists and creatives can play in qualifying, testing, exploiting and advancing innovations. In a tech-driven world, Charlie champions the importance of creative thinkers to extend the limits of technology and critique its effects.
Charlie's pioneering projects have global impact.
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Supernova
On Friday, June 23rd 2023, on the HOTA outdoor stage on Queensland’s Gold Coast, Charlie took their place at the piano and embarked on a marathon endurance performance. This historic event saw Charlie performing for over 26 hours to set the world record for the longest improvised piano concert ever.
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Concert for the Planet
During Earth Hour 2015, the Global Orchestra, with backing from the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, hosted the Concert for the Planet, featuring simultaneous performances of Holst’s The Planets across the world. A live stream of chief conductor David Robertson from the Sydney Opera House stage was broadcast worldwide, with even an orchestra at NASA joining in.
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The Interactive Orchestra
In 2017, the Interactive Orchestra, a Global Orchestra collaboration with Accenture Liquid Studio, introduced Baxter, a marimba-playing robot, at the Sydney Opera House, showcasing the seamless integration of music and technology.
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Constellation
The world's largest collection of solo piano works, Constellation was launched by Charlie Chan on January 20th, 2023 - the eve of the Lunar New Year. This groundbreaking release schedule featured 52 albums over 52 weeks.
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United Nations Performance
In November 2019, Charlie performed at the United Nations General Assembly in New York for the UNICEF Summit on World Children’s Day, marking the 30th anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Joined by the PS22 Chorus, a 60-strong children’s choir from Staten Island, Charlie performed their original song We The Children, commissioned for Damon Gameau’s climate change documentary, 2040.
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NASA Sigma Series Keynote
The Concert for the Planet featured a special collaboration with NASA's Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia. NASA staff and symphonic musicians from the region joined forces to participate at NASA HQ. Additionally, Charlie Chan was invited to deliver a keynote address as part of Langley Research Centre’s Colloquium and Sigma Lectures.
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Martian Music
In the early to mid-2000s, Charlie transformed their record label, Martian Music, into a thriving independent online music service. Pioneering digital downloads and music e-commerce in Australia, Martian became a highly successful platform for both local and international artists.
About Charlie
Charlie Chan (they/them) is an award-winning Australian pianist and composer, renowned for pioneering the integration of cutting-edge technology with contemporary and classical music. Over the past four decades, Charlie has emerged as one of Australia's leading composers, collaborating with musicians, performers, filmmakers, artists and tech visionaries to push the boundaries of music and technology.