Ran Jia (Ran Jia), Piano

Biography

At twenty, pianist Ran Jia is already regarded as a striking musician with unusual natural abilities.  Tan Dun hailed her as "China's new champion" and a "piano poet with dramatic skill in music-making".

Born in 1988 in Chengdu, Sichuan, China, Ms. Jia began studying piano at the age of three.  She made her solo debut in 1995, and has since performed in the United States, Germany, and China.  In July 2008, Ms. Jia gave a sold-out European recital debut at the Klavier-Festival Ruhr in Germany.  The German newspaper, Der Westen raved, "intellectually, powerfully and boldly interpreted. With marvelous impressive elegance in touch..." in the review titled "An Impressive Debut".

Highlights of her 2008-09 season include performances with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra and recitals in the United States and Asia.  Her numerous awards include the Special Prize for her performance of a Mozart Sonata in the Second Piano International-E-Competition in 2004; the Silver Medal in the National Cultural Ministry Dandelion Youth Arts Competition in Nanjing, China in 2001; First Prize and the Osaka Mayor Prize in the Shanghai-Osaka Chinese and Japanese Friendship Youth Piano Competition in 2000; First Prize in the Sichuan Youth Piano Competition in 1998; and Second Prize in the National Xinghai Cup Piano Competition in 1998.

In November 2005, Ms. Jia was selected to perform at Lincoln Center's Alice Tully Hall with her teacher, Gary Graffman, and the Orchestra of St. Luke's at a "Junior/Senior Concert" organized by the Musicians Emergency Fund, Inc.  Highlights of 2006 included a performance of two Mozart concerti with the Shanghai Philharmonic Orchestra at the Shanghai Concert Hall and a return, sold-out concert at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music.  She was featured in a live concert on Chicago's classical music station WFMT and gave her recital debut at the concert series of Rockefeller University in New York.  In addition, she was invited as the only classical pianist for a celebration concert in New York City in honor of Thelonious Monk's 90th Birthday.  This concert was broadcast worldwide on WQXR. 

Ran Jia is currently studying with Gary Graffman at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia.  Her father, Professor Daqun Jia, is one of the leading composers in China and Dean of the Graduate Studies Program at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music.