Renowned classical pianist Dang Thai Son spoke at NYU Shanghai on November 4 in front of an audience of 300 people. The Canadian and Vietnamese pianist, who in 1980 won first prize at the prestigious International Chopin Piano Competition at the age of 22, shared his life story, including the personal hardships and experiences that have shaped him as an artist.
Dang was invited as the third speaker of the NYU Shanghai Green Court Distinguished Lecture Series. Sponsored by the Green Court Foundation, the annual lecture series brings accomplished individuals to share their expertise with the University community and the public. NYU Shanghai Vice Chancellor Jeffrey Lehman opened the lecture and Green Court Capital Management representative Mr. Yao introduced Dang.
Born in Hanoi, Vietnam, Dang’s childhood was marked by war. His father, a poet, was initially reluctant to let his youngest child take up music, but Dang insisted and the four-year-old’s exceptional ear for music eventually won his parents over. Several of Dang’s older siblings already played instruments, and the family home was often filled with the sound of music.
The war disrupted his music education as he and his family relocated to a mountainous village for safety. The children had to take turns practicing, each allotted just 20 minutes a day. Air raids became a constant backdrop to his practice sessions.
Remembering those times, Dang recalled that everything was scarce. “There was no electricity, no modern conveniences—nothing,” he said. “We had to make a fire just to cook enough food to survive. We had to watch out for mice inside the piano and even snakes falling from above. And whenever the bombs came, my practice would be interrupted.”
In those uncertain years, his love for piano became something to hold on to—a lifeline amidst the chaos. And those childhood experiences shaped his understanding of suffering and tenderness, eventually finding their way into his interpretations of Chopin.
In 1980, he traveled to Poland to pay homage to the composer, even though he barely had any money and didn’t speak much English at the time. “I wanted to visit Poland where he was born,” he said. “My love for Chopin was greater than any obstacle.”
That love for the music showed in his renditions of Chopin pieces, winning him first place in the 10th International Chopin Piano Competition, held every five years in Warsaw, Poland. Dang was the first Asian to win the competition, which has been described by journalists as “the Olympics of classical music.”
“Music and art are not only about the technical side,” he said. “It’s about what we want to say through our music, through its content. That’s exactly what a live experience is. If you look back at the great composers of the 18th and 19th centuries, who among them had a happy life? Mozart, Beethoven—none of them really had an easy life. They went through misery, hardship, and suffering. And that’s exactly what they brought into their music: the peace and the beauty that emerged from their suffering.”
After his historic victory, Dang stepped away from the spotlight, spending a decade in relative obscurity, devoting himself to his music and artistic growth. Years later, he returned to the world stage, this time as a jury member of the Chopin International Piano Competition.
Dang told the audience that he believes that art and music have no age limit. “When you're young, you learn quickly because of your physical ability,” he said. “As you get older, you rely more on your brain to solve problems and catch up. This applies to technique, too. Analysis, reflection, and rational thinking can help you find more effective shortcuts. In fact, these approaches become even more useful when you're learning technique at an older age.”
Over the years, Dang has performed on concert stages in more than 40 countries. Beyond his own achievements, Dang has become an inspiring teacher, nurturing generations of pianists whose talents have gone on to shine. His legacy, it seems, is no longer measured solely by the prizes he won, but also by the music and musicians he continues to inspire.
