Sa Chen performs with Greeley Philharmonic Orchestra

An acclaimed Chinese pianist is in town for one night to perform with the Greeley Philharmonic Orchestra.

Sa Chen was awarded the third prize and was the first person of the Crystal Award at the 12th Van Cliburn International Piano Competition in June 2005.

Chen will perform Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 5 with the Greeley Philharmonic, which will be conducted by Howard Skinner. The second half of the show will include the University of Northern Colorado Chamber Choir to perform Beethoven's Mass in C.

"(The performance) is certain to be a dazzling performance of Beethoven's majestic Emperor Concerto," said Mary Russell, development coordinator at the Union Colony Civic Center in a statement. "This concert, featuring the very best of Beethoven, is not to be missed."

The last of Beethoven's five piano concerti, the Emperor Concerto was written during Napoleon's siege of Vienna in 1809.

Before the show there will be a pre-concert talk with Chen at 6:30 p.m. In addition to a cash prize, the award included three years of U.S. concert engagements, and a compact disc recording on the harmonia mundi usa label, Russell said. Chen was born into a musical family in Chongqing.

"She is considered as one of today's most important Chinese pianists," Russell added. "She quickly become known to audiences throughout Europe and Asia."

When Chen was a teenager, she was named first-prize winner of the 1994 China International Piano Competition. She also won fourth prize in the Leeds International Piano Competition in 1996 as the youngest contestant in the competition, which marked the beginning of her international career.

In addition, she won top prize of the 2000 Chopin Competition and this summer made her debut at the Canton International Summer Music Academy under the direction of Janos Furst. Chen plans to return to the prestigious Les Musiques and Lockenhaus Festivals at the invitation of violinist Gidon Kremer, Russell said.

« TO GO

See Sa Chen at 7:30 p.m. on Jan. 13 at the Union Colony Civic Center, 701 10th Ave. For tickets call (970) 356-5000. Prices range from $10-$28.