Sa Chen

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, fourth place in the 2000 International Frederick Chopin Piano Competition, a prize in the Leeds International Piano Competition and was third in the 2005 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition.

Born in China, Sa grew up in an artistic family. Her mother is a ballet dancer and her father was a French horn player who died of cancer when Sa was young. She received her first violin lesson from her father at the age of 6 and started her piano lessons with Prof. Dan Zhaoyi at age of 9. Both her parents dedicated themselves to Sa's piano education. Her mother took her weekly by overnight train from Chongqing to the Chengdu Conservatory for piano lessons. She appeared as the youngest contestant at the age of 16 at the 12th Leeds International Piano Competition and won the fourth prize. The year after, she received a full scholarship to study at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama with Prof. Joan Havill in London and received her master's degree in Performance. In 2000, she placed Fourth and the Best Polonaise Performance Award at the 14th International Chopin Piano Competition in Warsaw and received the Crystal Award at the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition in the year of 2005. Sa graduated from Arie Vardi’s Solo Class at the Hannover Hochschule für Musik und Theater in Germany in 2007, received PhD in Performance.

Over the past decade, Chen Sa has established herself as one of the most charismatic pianists of her generation. She earned critical acclaims at the International Chopin Piano Competition in 2000 and the Twelfth Van Cliburn International Piano Competition in 2005 which began her professional performing career, bringing her evocative performances to audience around the world.

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