Biography
Named a ‘Young Classical Star’ on Classic FM, the British - Portuguese concert violinist, Cristian de Sá, embarked on his career aged 24 with his European debut recital at the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam where he was introduced as “poetic... a future giant among soloists”. He was subsequently invited to make his European concerto debut with the Gulbenkian Orchestra in Lisbon under the baton of Lina González-Granados, with his performance critically acclaimed and featured by RTP Portugal and The Strad Magazine.
Cristian’s recent and upcoming notable concerto and recital engagements include performances at the Sheldonian Theatre in Oxford, The Stoller Hall in Manchester, Champs Hill Concerts, Vinehall International Concert Series, Amigos de Musica (Algarve), Grand Hall in Tbilisi State Conservatoire (Georgia), Absolute Classics (Scotland), Worthing Symphony Orchestra with Hilary Davan Wetton, Pittville Pump Room (Cheltenham), Corn Exchange in Bedford and at Bechstein Hall with concert pianist Andrey Gugnin with further concerts in prestigious European venues such as the Mozarteum in Salzburg, Atheneum Bucharest, Grande Auditório of Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation (Lisbon), Ateneo Madrid, Salle Paderewski (Lausanne), with the Orquestra da Cámara da Galega in Spain and in France with Renaud Capuçon, at his personal invitation, to take part in Capuçon's initiative ‘la nouvelle génération’.
Cristian has been broadcast on BBC Television, numerously on BBC Radio 3’s ‘InTune’, featured as a ‘Young Artist’on Scala Radio, TVR Romania, TRT Turkey and The Violin Channel. He previously received the First Prize at the inaugural ‘Groba’ International Violin Competition in Spain and a Gold Medal with High Distinction at the Vienna International Music Competition. He was the only British semi-finalist at the George Enescu International Competition 2018 and earlier in his musical life, Cristian was a televised string finalist at BBC Young Musician.
Cristian de Sa was born of Italian and Portuguese heritage and is a citizen of the United Kingdom and Portugal. At 13, he was awarded the Leverhulme Scholarship from the Royal Academy of Music and entered the class of the great French violinist and his longtime professor, Maurice Hasson. Cristian also had the unique opportunity to work with Tasmin Little as her only selected pupil, and who remains his mentor, and he was the only student to receive close guidance from Maxim Vengerov as the Academy's 'Menuhin Professor’. He was subsequently invited for chamber music performances with Vengerov at the Academy, and graduated with First Class Honours and the 'J & A Beare Prize', the conservatoire's most prestigious award gifted to the outstanding violinist graduate. He completed his studies at the Mozarteum University, Salzburg in the class of Mr. Pierre Amoyal.
Cristian has had the fortune to know and receive advice from many of today’s great musicians; Pinchas Zuckerman, James Ehnes, Steven Isserlis, David Stern, Philippe Graffin, Jean-Frédéric Neuburger, Ralph Kirshbaum and the late Menahem Pressler. He is most grateful for the support of the Nicholas Boas Charitable Trust & Bedford School Trust.
He plays a Joseph Guadagnini, 1800.
*Updated March 2024, please do not alter or use previous versions*
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