Angela Shan
Cambridge Pianist and Piano Teacher
Biography
Angela Shan is a pianist and teacher from Cambridge. She graduated with honours from the class of Philip Fowke and Alisdair Hogarth at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance in 2020. Prior to joining Philip and Alisdair's class she also studied piano performance and pedagogy under the tutelage of Penelope Roskell for 4 years. Other previous teachers include Andrew Black and Sue Bolt. She has also attended masterclasses with various renowned teachers such as Mikhail Kazakevich, Martino Tirimo and Margaret Fingerhut. A keen chamber musician, she has played in ensembles of various sizes for coaches such as Rivka Golani, Roger Chase and Sergio De Simone. She has also accompanied solo instrumentalists across a wide range of repertoire. Angela has performed in venues across the UK and Europe, including West Road Concert Hall in Cambridge, the Old Royal Naval College Chapel in Greenwich, the Stevenson Hall in Glasgow and the Palazzo Ricci in Montepulciano.
After completing her bachelor's degree, Angela studied with Hilary Coates in lieu of postgraduate study. She also holds LRSM and FRSM diplomas in piano performance and is a member of the ISM.
"Angela’s playing has a remarkable quality of commitment. She becomes another person the moment her fingers touch the keys. Her engagement with what she is doing is total, absorbed, and on many occasions very moving. [...] In a range of repertoire from Messiaen to Glinka Balakirev, she brings a probing and thoughtful musicianship allied to an increasingly assured pianism."
~ Philip Fowke, British Pianist
Pianist
Angela is available for performances across the UK. She enjoys playing a wide range of repertoire and samples of her performances can be found below. Please visit the contact page if you are interested in booking her for a function, event or concert. Angela is also available for accompaniment and chamber work.
"A lively sense of rhythm, moments of virtuosity and sensitive lyricism, Angela Shan's clear articulation and controlled passagework presents the work with polish and style. A pianist to be watched."
~ Alexander Arenare, British Pianist
Teacher
Angela has been teaching since 2012 and is available for private piano lessons in person. She teaches on a Yamaha C5 grand piano at her home in Cambridge and her pedagogical lineage can be traced back to Bach, Beethoven, Chopin, Liszt and many other great pianists from history. She holds the role of visiting piano teacher at St Mary's School (Cambridge) and previously held the role of senior piano teacher at Cherry Pie Music (London).
Angela is experienced in teaching both adults and children from beginner to advanced level and happy to prepare students for ABRSM exams up to and beyond grade 8. Support for GCSE/A-Level music is available as well as coaching for conservatoire auditions.
Lessons are tailored to each student's individual needs and expectations to suit their strengths and interests, while also maintaining a well-rounded approach to musicality, technique and theory/historical knowledge. A robust technique is developed to give voice to each student's inner musicality - there is no such thing as an unmusical student.
For more information including rates and schedule availability, please visit the contact page.
"Angela's piano lessons for my 9 year old daughter are inspiring, fun and professional. My daughter has improved massively and is looking forward to her weekly lessons. There is a good mix of technical exercises and pieces. Angela's communication is also excellent and she is always patient, even when my daughter hasn't practised enough!"
~ MP, Parent of Student