EDMOND—More than 460 concertgoers followed violinist Ray Chen on a “Journey Across Europe” on November 28 at Armstrong Auditorium in the third event of the 2017–2018 Armstrong International Cultural Foundation concert series.

Accompanied by pianist Julio Elizalde, Chen’s 90-minute program included three sonatas and a suite. Between bits, he told humorous stories and even hopped down from the stage to answer an audience member’s cellphone.

“We had a very enthusiastic audience at the Ray Chen concert. I personally heard more positive feedback about this event than any others,” concert manager Ryan Malone said. “It makes sense since Ray is a rare breed of violinist who is technically superior, musically expressive and socially captivating in terms of personality. … I can see why he was so well-received. One violinist in the community said it was the best solo-violin he could remember being to, and another said he’d never heard of a double encore for a solo-violin recital.”

The morning after the concert, Chen taught a master class at Armstrong Auditorium. Three Oklahoma youths played violin pieces and then listened to Chen give advice about playing with emotion, varying the volume, practicing persistently, and channeling nervousness.

Ray Chen is an Australian violinist who won first prize in the 2008 International Yehudi Menuhin Violin Competition and the 2009 Queen Elisabeth Music Competition. His instrument of choice is a Stradivarius crafted in the year 1715.

Julio Elizalde is an American pianist who has performed throughout the United States, Europe, Asia and Latin America with well-known musicians including violinist Sarah Chang and conductors Itzhak Perlman and Teddy Abrams.

The 2017–2018 concert series continues on January 16 as banjoist Béla Fleck and string quartet Brooklyn Rider perform in a collaborative event titled “Night Flight Over Water.”