“Exhilarating evening”
– The Independent
Tra Nguyen, the acclaimed British-Vietnamese pianist, captivates audiences with performances hailed as “coruscating” (The Independent), “sophisticated” (Rheinpfalz-Zeitung), and possessing “surpassing artistry and passion” (American Record Guide).
Since her concerto debut performing Mozart’s K.488 with the Hanoi Conservatory Orchestra, Nguyen has graced prestigious international stages including London’s Queen Elizabeth Hall, Cadogan Hall, and Wigmore Hall, Tokyo Opera City, Hong Kong City Hall Theatre, and the Ho Chi Minh City Opera House. Renowned for her imaginative programming, she masterfully balances core repertoire with neglected gems. Recent explorations encompass Schubert’s complete piano sonatas, Liszt’s formidable Grandes études (S.137), and Nimrod Borenstein’s 12 Etudes, alongside numerous piano concertos. For the 2025/2026 season, she embarks on a major project presenting Scriabin’s complete ten piano sonatas in concert.
Nguyen’s distinguished discography, receiving worldwide airplay on major classical networks, features significant world premiere recordings of overlooked works. Her critically lauded series of Joachim Raff’s piano music for Grand Piano was named ‘Album of the Week’ by The Independent. Her recent release, dedicated to Borenstein’s 12 Etudes & Piano Works, has also garnered significant critical praise.
A versatile artist, Nguyen is an esteemed chamber musician, collaborating with partners such as baritone Benjamin Appl and clarinettist Sabine Grofmeier. She is a frequent guest soloist with Vietnam’s symphony orchestras and has recorded with the Prague Radio Symphony and the Norrlands Opera Symphony Orchestra. Her performances have been broadcast live on BBC Radio 3, Hong Kong Radio Four, and Vietnam National Television.
Nguyen’s formidable artistry was shaped by studies with the legendary Lev Naumov at the Moscow Conservatory and Christopher Elton at the Royal Academy of Music (RAM), where her exceptional final recital earned the highest award, the DipRAM. In recognition of her achievements, she was elected an Associate of the Royal Academy of Music (ARAM) in 2013.
