Allowing her playing to speak for itself, Chai took to the stage in a truly humble yet fresh way. Her touch on the keys gave an impression not only of clear artistic ownership of the repertoire but also a sensitive grasp on the resonance of the strings in the instrument.
Bachtrack
- New recordings
- New recordings
- New recordings
- New recordings
- New recordings
- New recordings
fun facts
Studied the viola as a secondary instrument and still has a soft spot for the sound of an open C string
Most picturesque concert hall she ever played in? Troldsalen in Bergen, Norway: the lakeside cottage where Grieg wrote much of his music is visible from the stage...
Loves studying languages and recently earned her A2 certificate in Japanese
Started piano lesson at age 5 at the local YWCA
As a child, she collected vintage postage stamps, shark teeth, and fossils
Alongside her piano studies, she graduated from Oberlin College with a degree in biology
She was born in Gainsville, Florida, (USA) where her dad was a NASA Scientist
Lives in The Hague,
the Netherlands
She grew up helping in her mom's Chinese restaurant and is still an avid cook of all cuisines
.webp)
bio at a glance
Recent Performances
De Doelen Rotterdam • Stadsgehoorzaal Leiden • Orlando Festival (NL) • Utrecht Early Music Festival • Suntory Hall Blue Rose (Tokyo) • Izumi Hall (Osaka) • Fukinoto Hall (Sapporo) • Ferdinandeum Museum (Innsbruck) • National Concert Hall of Taipei • Les Musicales de Normandie (France) • Gloppen Musikkfest (Norway)
Hidemi Suzuki (cello) • Shunske Sato (violin) • Steuart Pincombe (cello) • Mattijs van de Woerd (baritone) • Noa Frenkel (alto) • the Dudok String Quartet
Masterclasses and Workshops
Temple University • University of California at Davis • CodArts Rotterdam • Conservatorium of Amsterdam • Conservatorium of Maastricht • Gulanyu Piano Academy of Xiamen (China) • Central Conservatory of Beijing
Shuann curated her own fortepiano Festival in Zaandijk
Music & more
Pre-recorded piano performance for the character of Mozart, coached actors in onstage piano-playing
Modern dance, music of John Cage
Modern dance, music of Prokofiev, and life-size puppet by Duda Paiva
The complete Beethoven Sonatas performed with excerpts from his letters and some of his songs
One of the most impressive aspects of the evening was to experience just how eloquent and well-versed Chai is. Graciously taking the microphone after her interpretation of the Pathétique, she shed some human light on the highly complicated and moving passages we had just heard.
Bachtrack
copy by Philip Belt
on loan from the NMF
Calendar
with Shunske Sato / 3-12 until 6-12
Musicians from the Residentie Orkest The Hague
with Shunske Sato / 16-1 until 19-1
reconstruction of a recital by Joseph Joachim
Stimulating... Chai has a keen sense for the colouristic possibilities of her instrument
BBC Music Magazine
Contact
artist manager
