Overview
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Biography
Sa Chen (simplified Chinese: 陈萨; traditional Chinese: 陳薩; pinyin: Chén Sà) (born 1979 in Chongqing, China) is a Chinese pianist. She won first prize in the 1994 China International Piano Competition and fourth place in the 2000 International Frederick Chopin Piano Competition and a prize in the Leeds International Piano Competition. Furthermore, she was a third place winner in the 2005 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition.
Described as "one of the brightest performers of her generation" by Clasical FM in London, Chen Sa has been delighting audiences in European countries, China, Japan and the United States.
Chen Sa study at Shenzhen Arts Schools with Prof. Dan Zhaoyi, at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, London with Prof. Joan Havill and at the Hochschule für Musik und Theater Hannover with Prof. Arie Vardi. She is now living in Germany.
She won prizes in the Leeds International Piano Competition, International Chopin Piano Competition in Warsaw and Van Cliburn International Piano Competition. She become the only pianist in the history to award in all the top three piano competitions.
As a soloist, Chen Sa has worked with many celebrated conductors such as Semyon Bychkov, Edo de Waart, Sir Simon Rattle, Leonard Slatkin, James Conlon, Louis Lane, Long Yu, Muhai Tang, Jia Lü, Jan Krenz, Howard Griffiths, several of whom offered return engagements. She has performed with, among many others, Takács Quartet, WDR Symphony Orchestra, the City of Birmingham Symphony, Royal Stockholm Philharmonic, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Pittsburgh Symphony, Camerata Salzburg, Israel Philharmonic, China Philharmonic, China National Symphony Orchestra Shanghai Symphony Orchestra, Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra, etc.. She was selected in the prestigious Tokyo series "The 100 Great Pianists of the Twentieth Century".
Chen Sa performed with Gidon Kremer in many occasions including Louisiana Museum, Lockenhaus Chamber Festival, Le Musiques festival, as well as in China. She also appeared with many other chamber ensembles thoughout Europe.
Chen Sa was awarded Chopin Art Passport from Polish Government as recognition for her achievement and devotion in Chopin's music during Chopin bicentennial in 2010. Chen Sa's two latest albums with PentaTone label has been released worldwide.
