I was born in Saigon, Vietnam. My father came from a family of five generations of traditional musicians. My mother was from a well-to-do family of jewellers. I was thus born into an artistic and cultural circle.
Ever since my childhood, my parents have always encouraged me in my pursuit of my dream to become a pianist.
The dramatic events in Vietnam have led my family to come to resettle in France where I found myself restarting a new life.
My beginning here was painfully hard. But this harsh path also led me to meet the key people who would help me through the most critical period of my life, giving me the energy and confidence to believe in my dreams and to have faith in my future.
After my graduation from the school of musical studies in Fontenay-sous-Bois (DÉM CRC), in 1987, I won the first prize in the Nerini piano contest in Paris. Then I was admitted to the Paris Music Teaching Academy (École Normale de Musique de Paris) where I met with the great concert artists André Gorogand Michael Wladkowski, and where I obtained my degree in piano teaching.
Following that, I was so blessed to receive my degree in Musicology from Sorbonne University.
In 2014, I finally was awarded the ultimate qualification, the Diplôme d’État, the heaven-sent gift for the pursuit of my passion! Still today, when I recall that day when I received it, I still give thanks to the Lord. For teaching piano has always been a very important place in my musician’s life.
My father Trân Vān Trach, a famous artist and showman in Vietnam, had instilled in me from my early years to follow his footsteps. But I needed all the courage I could get to overcome my fears and my doubts, to listen to my intuition and my heart, to be able to perform my first piano recitals in Paris.
Since 2002, I have given several piano recitals, either in solo or in duo with Alain Colas, at the American Church in Paris 8. The beauty of the place inspires me and gives me an immense sense of bliss to perform there. Music seems to be touched by the splendour of the place and by the magic of God’s Love.
2019 saw me visiting America for the first time, mostly in Virginia, where I gave a few piano recitals in the Methodist Church of Saint John’s United of Springfield, as a guest of the Prelude Chamber Ensemble.
As for now, I am working for the Music Academy of La Garenne-Colombes. My work here allows me to create fantastic musical projects with my students of all ages.
I’m a jury member and I’m also in charge of the UFAM competition and I remain a member of the Prelude Chamber Ensemble of Virginia (USA).
My participation in the piano training course in Courchevel conducted by André Gorog was as unforgettable an experience as the ‘Meeting Musical de Mont-D’ores’ where I had the privilege of working with Carlos Cebro, great concert artist and director of the Brest piano competition and the artistic director of the International Competition of musical performance ‘Maria Canal’ of Barcelona. I count my blessings at each of these working opportunities that have enriched my musical culture.
I would like to pay tribute to my family’s musical legacy: my father Trân Vān Trach; my uncle Trân Vān-Khê (former director in ethnomusicology of France National Research Centre CNRS, and in Unesco) and his son, my cousin Trân Quang-Hāi (researcher in ethnomusicology for the anthropology museum Musée de l’Homme in Paris). Also, I would like to express my deepest gratitude to France, my second country, for allowing me to flourish in this land of liberty.
Each note that I play, it’s my soul surrendering, it’s my heart throbbing, it’s my fingers dancing, it’s my whole being marvelling. I do not know where my passion for piano will lead me to, whether or not I will achieve my dreams but one thing I am sure of, that’s my wish to dedicate myself entirely to it.