“I play about 40 recitals per year and I think I’m not only a pianist, I’m also someone who tells a story via playing, I tell my secrets into my music and the audience can really understand who Shizhe Shen is from my performance. My music is full of story.
I was born in Xiangtan, China, a very beautiful city, I started playing piano at the age of 6, with Hua Wang, She lived in Wuhan, I had to take a 7 hour train once a week from Xiangtan to Wuhan for the piano lesson. then I studied at Wuhan Conservatory of Music from 2005 with Prof.Bin Su. In 2009, I moved to England and studied at the Purcell School of music with Prof.Tessa Nicholson, After that I moved to Germany in 2011, studied with Maestro Arie Vardi at HMTMH for 8 years, it was a lovely and unforgettable time.
My greatest achievements:
Steinway Artist.
Recording artist for GENUIN label.
Top award at Global Music Award.
Played more than hundreds concerts, many of them were live broadcasted.
Invited as guest artist in many TV shows/ talk shows.
My job takes me VERY often in front of the camera so I go to the gym everyday to keep myself in a good shape, to look good in front of the camera.
My former piano teacher Arie Vardi has been the most important influence on my music life and career, he was not only a piano teacher to me but a life mentor, I was so lucky to study with him.
My parents inspired me to pursue my career in music, the newspapers calls me piano princess, I’m very appreciate for this nickname but I know I’m not a princess, I had some very tough time in my life and my parents always cheers me up, they always trusted me, gave me all the support.
My most memorable concert / musical experience would be my first formal recital. I was nearly 15 years old and it was in Wuhan, I was not nervous at all, loved every seconds on the stage.
Which performances or recordings am I most proud of? All of them. They all had different stories, each one of them are like my children.I’m proud of all of them.
One thing I do off stage that provides me inspiration is slow practice. I LOVE slow practice and I can always find different things from slow practice. It makes my mind clear.
Maybe some more magazines and radios to promote classical music so the audience could know more about the performer and the music would be a good way to make the classical music audience grow.
A definition of success… hmm… it’s a hard question, everyone has a different answer to it, but one always needs more recognition, so we get more opportunities to share our music with other people.
My idea of perfect happiness is to play music everyday and enjoy life with my family and friends, keep smile to life.”