Sandrine Erdely-Sayo

Sandrine Erdely-Sayo, born October 11, 1968, in Perpignan, France, is a Jewish pianist. She was a child prodigy who could play Bach and read music before knowing how to read a book.

Biography
Sandrine Erdely-Sayo began studying piano at the age of four at the Perpignan Conservatory in France, with Michèle Puig (Pablo Casals' goddaughter). At ten, she was awarded first prize at the Bellan Competition in Paris. Three years later she won gold medals in piano and chamber music and the following year, the "prix d'excellence à l'unanimité". She continued her musical studies with Denyse Rivière and with Christian Manen (First Grand Prize of Rome) at the Conservatoire de Paris where she received first prize for specialization in solfège. There, she pursued special studies in harmony, counterpoint and fugue.

She became the youngest recipient of the French minister of Culture Prize at the age of thirteen. Four years later, she won first prize at the Scène Française International Piano Competition, in Paris, was a prize winner at the IBLA International Competition in Italy, and was semi-finalist at the "Torneo Internazionale di Musica" in Rome, Italy.

At the age of 14, she wrote three pieces for chamber orchestra which were played at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris. She came to the United States in 1990 for graduate studies with Susan Starr at the University of the Arts, Philadelphia where she received a Master's Degree in piano and composition, and won the Orchestra Competition and the Strine Award scholarship.

Sandrine Erdely-Sayo has played in many festivals such as Mozart, Bach Festival, Festival International des Arts, Festival de Prades, the Louvre, Jewish Film Festival with the American writer Cynthia Ozick, Festival of the "Hispanidad", and for radio and television in France, United States, Spain, Italy, and Argentina.

In 1999, Erdely-Sayo made her Chicago debut at Preston Bradley Hall for the Dame Myra Hess Memorial Concert. As a chamber musician, she has performed the major repertoire by Poulenc, Messiaen, and Bartok.

Her performances combine technical virtuosity, creative interpretation and a magical lightness that makes classical music accessible to all. She communicates with the audience musically and verbally to share history, personal experience, and humor.

She has recorded the integral work of Primitivo Lazaro in two CDs featured at OnClassical. She has given the world premiere of pieces by Argentinean composers and the modern world premiere of a discovered piece by Francis Poulenc at Towson University.

Erdely-Sayo is an honorary member of Darius Milhaud international Competition and she is a member of the International Society for Philosophical Enquiry.

She is currently teaching at Temple University Music Prep. and at the well-known Lawrenceville School.

She has been listed in several editions of Who's Who in America, Who's Who of American Women, and Who's Who of Emerging Leaders under the age of 40.

Sandrine Erdely-Sayo was granted permanent residency in April 1996 as an artist of exceptional ability and as a national interest for the United States. She became an American citizen on February 15, 2007.

Erdely-Sayo's favorite scientists, philosophers and writers: Albert Einstein, Évariste Galois, Vladimir Jankelevitch, Emmanuel Levinas, Irène Frain, Honoré de Balzac, Marcel Proust.

Reviews and quotes
"An uninhibited and personal style". "No cookie-cutter pianist". Peter Dobrin, Philadelphia Inquirer, USA.

"An elegant, fantaisiste, and imaginative tone". "Sandrine Erdely-Sayo belongs to a very young generation of musicians who give us happiness, joy and pride." J.P., Midi Libre, France.

"A pianist with idealism, passion and lyricism." Marco Ruiz, La Prensa, Spain.

"The interpretation of Fauré, Chopin and Liszt convinced us of her marvellous talent." Chopin Society.

"Sandrine Erdely-Sayo is comfortable with all musical styles. She possesses a pure and excellent technique." Randolph Faget, Musica Hoy, Argentina.

"In the transcendental Etude of liszt, of a great technical difficulty, the young pianist has given proof of a perfect mastery and sensibility "like the skin of a flower." L'Indépendant, France

"An important talent." Jewish Exponent, USA

"...plays in a passionate and electrifying manner." Philadelphia Inquirer, USA

"This young pianist made the piano tremble as well as the public who applauds in a standing ovation for this high caliber recital." "The young virtuose is rebellious against her marathons-days." Ph. Salus, L'Indépendant, France

"Sandrine is a major talent. Her wonderful musicianship is so strong as to drow the listener into deep involvement with the music. Reminds me strongly of some of the great poet pianists I have heard in the past. I believe that few young artists today have her ability to communicate so intimately." Maestro Joseph Primavera, April 1991

"I can assure you that Sandrine Erdely-Sayo is an excellent young artist. With her training at the Conservatoire National Superieur de musique de Paris, she brings a fresh style which is clearly European approach. The exceptional quality of her playing is certainly recognizable from the many international prizes which she has received. I believe there is a cross-cultural benefit which can serve only for the general good of music in the United States." Gary Graffman, October 1995

Interviews

 * Houston Public Radio npr KUHF88 FM with Alison Young - Houston, November 19, 2004


 * Philadelphia Music Makers - Insatiable Pianist by Jill Yris - Vol.3 No4, Winter 2004

Discography
Integral works of Primitivo Lazaro.
 * July 1998, Randolpho Records - Buenos Aires - Argentina and Weston Sound Philadelphia.
 * June 1999 Weston Sound - Philadelphia USA