Born in 1967 into a musical family in Shanghai, Chen Leiji began studying the guqin at the age of nine and entered the Middle School Affiliated to the Shanghai Conservatory of Music at twelve. He continued his studies there through university under the guidance of Guqin master Gong Yi, graduating in 1989.

Following his graduation, Chen lived in France, where he pursued conducting studies at the École Normale Supérieure de Paris, the Conservatoire à Rayonnement Régional de Reims, and the Conservatoire à Rayonnement Régional de Rueil-Malmaison.

During his years in Europe, he gave nearly one hundred solo concerts and collaborated with several Western orchestras in performances of guqin concertos by Luo Zhongrong and Chen Qigang, including Charm of the Qin and Silence of the Qin.

In 2003, he entered the Central Conservatory of Music to study conducting with Professor Yu Feng, earning his master’s degree.

In 2006, he joined the faculty of the China Conservatory of Music, where he also served as conductor of the Youth Chinese Orchestra of its affiliated middle school.

In 2008, he performed the guqin piece The Scroll during the Opening Ceremony of the Beijing Olympic Games.

In 2010, he completed his Doctorate in Composition at the China Conservatory of Music under Professor Zhao Jiping.

As a conductor, Chen has collaborated with numerous orchestras both in China and abroad, including the European Community Youth Symphony Orchestra, Blue Lake Youth Symphony Orchestra (USA), Lisbon City Symphony Orchestra (Portugal), and Shanghai Radio Symphony Orchestra. He has also served as Guest Conductor for the Shanghai Conservatory Youth Symphony Orchestra’s France Tour and as Music Director of the Rueil-Malmaison Conservatory Youth Orchestra in France.

As a guqin soloist, Chen has performed extensively across Europe and Asia. Highlights include his solo performance at the Opening Ceremony of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, a joint concert with cellist Yo-Yo Ma at the National Centre for the Performing Arts in 2011, and collaborations with conductor Michael Tilson Thomas at the China–US Cultural Forum in 2012. He has also given acclaimed recitals at the NCPA, Xinhai Concert Hall, and the Macao International Music Festival.

Chen’s recordings include Meian Qin Repertoire (Radio France “OCORA”), which won the Charles Cros Academy World Music Award in France, as well as Legend of the Ancient Hall, recipient of the 2015 IFPI Hong Kong Classical Album of the Year Award. His publications include Leiji Guqin Series: Beginner’s Repertoire (2014) and Classical Repertoire (2020), both released by the Shanghai Music Publishing House.

Currently teaching at the BIMA, Chen continues to explore the artistic dialogue between traditional Chinese music and contemporary expression, bridging cultures through both performance and education.