2027 Competition Jury Chair
2005 Cliburn Bronze Medalist
CHINA
Described by Classic FM as “the most charismatic pianist of her generation,” the cover artist of the launching issue of Gramophone magazine (China Edition), and named by the French magazine L’OFFICIEL as “Top Ten Chinese Artists,” Sa Chen established herself with “flair, sophistication and with volcanic underground.”
In recent seasons, Ms. Chen gave successful recital performances at the Théâtre des Champs Élysées in Paris and the Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg, performed Beethoven Concerto Nos. 1–5 in two concerts with Conductor Zhang Guoyong and Guiyang Symphony Orchestra in China, and toured with Bach and Mozart concertos as soloist and conductor with the Hungarian Chamber Orchestra throughout Germany, which was highly acclaimed: “…She performed the contrasts of symphonic opulence and songlike chamber music intimacy and interweave them brilliantly” (Johannes Seifert). Other highlights include tours with Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra performing the two Chopin concertos under conductor Jacek Kaspszyk, Schubert Lieder “Die Schöne Müllerin” concert tour with baritone Matthias Goerne, and Ravel and Rachmaninov concertos with conductors Jaap Van Zweden and Charles Dutoit.
After winning top prizes of prestigious competitions at the Leeds, Chopin Warsaw, and Cliburn in her early teenage years, Ms. Chen started her career with recital tours globally, performing with NHK Symphony, Israel Philharmonic, San Francisco Symphony, Los Angeles Philharmonic, London Philharmonic, Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France, WDR Symphony, Orchestra dell’ Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia, Royal Stockholm Symphony, Moscow Philharmonic, China Philharmonic, and Shanghai Symphony Orchestras, among others. She gave memorable performances at major venues including Philharmonie (Berlin), Barbican and Wigmore Hall (London), Carnegie Hall (New York), Kennedy Center (Washington D.C.), Sydney Opera House, Suntory Concert Hall (Tokyo), and National Centre for the Performing Arts (Beijing). Her enthusiasm of chamber music has taken her to historical music festivals such as Lockenhaus, Salzburg, Ruhr Piano, Dusznicki, and St. Petersburg Piano.
Ms. Chen has released 11 highly acclaimed albums. Three solo albums with JVC and IMC label in Japan, two live recordings done by the Chopin Competition Warsaw and Cliburn/Harmonia Mundi, three with Pentatone in Netherland—of which two featured Chopin Piano Concerti (“soulful performance” Classic FM), Grieg Piano Concerto, and Rachmaninov Second Concerto, plus one Russian piano solo works. She also selected compositions that symbolized ‘the real east’ to record for BIS; the resulting album was described as “the most interesting and successful recording of new Chinese music so far” by BBC Music Magazine. In pursuit of comprehensive creativity, Ms. Chen and her office ATELIERSA came together with recording producer Johannes Mueller and Neri & Hu Design and Research Office to produce the solo album of Debussy Preludes. Later, Chopin 21 Nocturnes was released by Universal Decca, and in 2024, Ms. Chen released the Liszt B-Minor Sonata and Schumann Kreisleriana with Arabesque. All albums are available on Apple Music Global.
Aside from her performance schedule, Sa Chen engages herself in philanthropic work. She was invited to premiere the “Green Call” piano concerto by the World Bank and government of Norway, and appeared at the “Global Citizen 2015 Earth Day” event in Washington D.C., joining to help promote environmental protection programs. During the pandemic period in 2020, Ms. Chen joined the first offline forum of the UNESCO "ResiliArt" in Beijing China as the only classical artist.
Since 2016, Sa Chen has taken part in prestigious juries for the Chopin International Piano Competition in Warsaw, Leeds International Piano Competition, and Busoni Concourse in Italy.