“An almost nonstop whirlwind of effervescent power.”
— Blogcritics

“He showed that he had Chopin in his bones.”
— Blogcritics

“Chengcheng Ma knows to hold back from extremes, playing with plenty of velocity but maintaining clarity.”
— Blogcritics

“Chengcheng Ma has the expressive depth to match the sheer physical prowess his repertoire demands.”
— Blogcritics

“The brilliance and sparkle of Ma’s rendition of this impressive new work.”
— Blogcritics

“A near-superhuman exercise in musical athleticism.”
— Blogcritics

“Across a marathon program of Chopin, Liszt, and challenging contemporary works, Ma combined stamina, expressive depth, and technical clarity, leaving an impression of a pianist as a true force of nature.”
— Blogcritics

“Performing the entire opus, Ma sought and often found the distinct expressive character of each etude.”
— New York Classical Review

“Pianist Ma’s crisp touch throughout the work evoked the harpsichord.”
— New York Classical Review

“A sensitive rubato and long lines distinguished the two etudes in slow tempos.”
— New York Classical Review

“Driving fiercely ahead throughout, Ma negotiated the shifting patterns and syncopations with aplomb.”
— New York Classical Review

“Ma sank into Liszt’s full-bodied forte and fortissimo with relish.”
— New York Classical Review

“Pianist Chengcheng Ma is superlative.”
— Colin Clarke, Fanfare Magazine

“Performs in exemplary fashion, with a lovely, exquisitely blended sonority.”
— Ken Meltzer, Fanfare Magazine

“Shapes, bends, and phrases the music impeccably... beautiful and moving.”
— Mark Gabrish Conlan, Fanfare Magazine

“Chengcheng Ma... I’d worked with him on a number of projects, and it seemed a good idea to get him to do the piano parts.”
— Composer Rodney Lister

“Ma’s excellent playing stressed the combative contrast... Ma’s performance was greeted with strong applause.”
— John Frayne, The News-Gazette (Champaign, IL)

“Ma captured the relaxed good humor of Mozart’s Concerto No. 17 in G major.”
— John Frayne, The News-Gazette (Champaign, IL)

“Spiritual depth and extraordinary tonal beauty — a solid and insightful pianist.”

— Anyrews.cn, Sept 2025

Pianist Chengcheng Ma, a student of world-renowned pianist Boaz Sharon, has performed concerto concerts with several symphony orchestras, including Sinfonia da Camera (2022 and 2023, Maestro Ian Hobson), Brookline Symphony Orchestra(2021, Maestro Andrew Altenbach), Boston University Symphony Orchestra (2020, Maestro James Burton), and Hebei Province Symphony Orchestra (2014, Maestro Peng Tuo), among others. The repertoire includes Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 4 in G major, Op. 58; Piano Concerto No. 5 in E-flat major, Op. 73, "Emperor"; Mozart's Piano Concerto in G major, K.453; Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto No. 1, Op. 23; Ravel's Concerto for the Left Hand; Brahms’ Piano Concerto No. 2 in B♭ major, Op. 83; and John Corigliano's Piano Concerto. In addition to his appearances as a concerto soloist, he has also performed as an orchestral pianist and celeste player with Boston University Symphony Orchestra (2021, Maestro James Burton), Longwood Symphony Orchestra (2025, Maestro Jotaro Nakano), and Coro Allegro (2025, Maestro David Hodgkins)

Chengcheng Ma has worked closely with contemporary composers, and world premieres include Ketty Nez's suite française for piano solo (2024); Rodney Lister's This Time Next Year (with clarinetist Amy Advocat); Preface to a Twenty Volume Suicide Note (with baritone James Demler); and Again Later (with soprano Aliana de la Guardia). An album of choral music by composer Rodney Lister, OF MERE BEING, was released in June 2025, where Chengcheng accompanied 21 choral works by Dr. Rodney Lister, with members of the Church of the Advent, under Maestro Mark Dwyer, at Futura Productions, Boston.

Chengcheng has an extensive jazz background, featuring performances and research in J.P. Johnson, Fats Waller, Mary Lou Williams, Erroll Garner, Oscar Peterson, and Art Tatum. He participated in the HARLEM STRIDE PIANO 1921–1943 recording project at Falcetti Pianos, Springfield, MA, and hosted lecture recitals at Weatherford College (Alkek Fine Arts Center, TX) and Gracepoint Media. Chengcheng has also performed jazz piano duets with Prof. Boaz Sharon and Dr. Hyeyoung Song.

Chengcheng Ma’s recent performances include a masterclass and solo recital at the University of Mary in Bismarck, ND; a solo recital at First Church Boston; an orchestral performance as a member of the Longwood Symphony Orchestra at Jordan Hall, Boston; and a solo recital at Merkin Hall, New York. Chengcheng also serves as Director of the Piano Jury for the Australian International Music Competition & Master Series Concert (North America Division) in December 2025, held at Saint Peter’s Episcopal Church in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and as an Artist Jury Member for the Kairos International Music Competition 2025.

For more details and a schedule of upcoming performances, please visit chengchengma.com.