Professional violinist, social media influencer, and entrepreneur Ray Chen made a few dreams come true at The Royal Conservatory, hosting a rare ‘Meet & Greet’ for a group of dedicated fans at Mazzoleni Concert Hall on June 24. Those chosen for the gathering won a raffle after signing up for the RCM practice group on Tonic, an innovative music practice and performance app, co-founded by Chen.
In addition to taking selfies and answering questions with young fans, Chen also selected six musicians for a master class. The talented lineup of performers included violinists, a classical guitarist, a cellist, and two pianists.
“I definitely think that music is music, and you can learn a lot from other musicians, even though it’s a different instrument,” said 15-year-old Theodora Koski, of Orillia, Ont., one of the pianists selected to perform in the master class. Koski first discovered Chen on YouTube about five years ago, and quickly downloaded Tonic to support her practice habits. “It really means a lot that he cares about other musicians as well.”
Koski recently completed her ARCT requirements in piano, performance with the RCM. The Associate Diploma (ARCT) is a culminating level of the RCM Certificate program, which involves a practical examination evaluated as a concert performance. She credits the Tonic community for keeping her accountable in her practice habits and encouraging her to practice the breadth of material needed to successfully complete this prestigious exam.
The event with Chen was a significant step in the evolving partnership between Tonic and The Royal Conservatory, truly highlighting the core values of both organizations. A consistent theme throughout the day was the importance of practice, especially in preparation for RCM exams, and how Tonic can help nurture this.
Chen came up with the idea behind Tonic in 2020 when the world went into lockdown. Designed as a tool to keep musicians connected and motivated, it encourages regular practice in preparation for their exams, even when they can’t be together in person.
When users download the app and create an account, it instantly connects with other musicians around the world. It allows people to share practice techniques, feedback and encouragement to keep musicians motivated. Tonic helps students and teachers practice smarter with real-time feedback, group support, and accountability — perfect for exam preparation and performance confidence. Users can practice anonymously as an avatar in a supportive community that celebrates progress.
By partnering with Tonic, the RCM is maintaining its commitment to identifying innovative approaches to learning, building community, and providing impactful access beyond traditional boundaries. “It is critical that the RCM continues to build on its 139-year legacy by creating new and exciting opportunities for our students, spread across the globe, to connect with one another and share their love of music." said Alexander Brose, Michael and Sonja Koerner President and CEO of the RCM. "We’re absolutely thrilled to be able to partner with a true dreamer and international juggernaut like Ray Chen and see this grow.”
Chen noted the importance of exam preparation in his musical development, sharing the value of good practice habits in that process.
“It was incredibly inspiring to be at the Royal Conservatory and to see so many students come together through this new partnership with Tonic. Performance is a skill, and like any skill, it improves with practice, especially when that practice happens in a supportive community. When students feel safe enough to share their progress, they give others permission to grow too. That’s the spirit behind Tonic, and it’s been a joy to see it come to life here at the RCM." — Ray Chen.
A past winner of the prestigious Yehudi Menuhin and Queen Elizabeth competitions, Chen is one of the world’s premiere violin soloists. He has performed with major orchestras around the world, including the London Philharmonic, New York Philharmonic, Los Angeles Philharmonic, and National Arts Centre Orchestra, among others.
In addition to his success as a performer, he has also built an immense reach via his social media platforms and popular YouTube channel. He has amassed over 690,000 subscribers on YouTube. Chen is also active on Instagram, TikTok and Discord, with a global social media reach of over 2.3 million followers.
His passion for music education connects well with the RCM’s mission for providing musical growth opportunities for people of all levels and all ages. Chen regularly posts ‘How-to’ videos on his YouTube channel and takes an unconventional approach to building fans of classical music. Tonic has about 300,000 users in 130 countries.
This ‘Meet & Greet’ won’t be Chen’s only visit to Toronto in 2025. He is set to perform at Koerner Hall on November 19.