袁莎未滿六歲就正規學習古箏，師從劉媌老師。十歲以優異成績考入中國最高音樂學府北京中央音樂學院的附屬音樂小學，一九九○年，作為該音樂小學的「優秀畢業生」被保送進入中央音樂學院附屬音樂中學，一九九六年，畢業後又被保送進入中央音樂學院民樂系，一九九九年，因成績突出，被中央音樂學院免試成為該院的碩士研究生。袁莎自中央音樂學院音樂小學至中央音樂學院碩士研究生的十餘年間，師從古箏名師李萌教授，成為該院的古箏「尖子」學生，曾連續被評為該院的北京市的「全優三好學生」和連續獲得多項中國和外國頒發授予的獎學金。二○○一年十一月，她在「第一屆‘龍音杯’中國民族樂器—古箏國際比賽」中奪得金牌，並於二○○二年八月在中國文化部舉辦的「全國青少年藝術大賽—第一屆中國民族樂器獨奏比賽」中再次以極大的優勢榮獲青年專業組第一名，袁莎已成為當今傑出的新一代表演精英。
YUAN Sha
YUAN Sha began to receive the formal zheng train from LIU Miao since she was six. At the age of ten, she was admitted to the affiliated elementary school of the Central Conservatory. In 1990, she was admitted to the affiliated middle school of the conservatory as an excellent graduate and in the same way further her study in the university. In 1999, she was recommended without examination as a post-graduate in the conservatory. Since she has been admitted to the conservatory from elementary to university, she studied the zheng diligently under Professor LI Meng. She was an outstanding student and had gained many honorable titles and prizes in China and overseas. In November 2001, she obtained the Gold Prize in the first “ROI Cup” Chinese National Instrument——Guzheng International. In August 2002, she obtained the champion of the professional level in the first Chinese National Instrument Performance Competition organized by the Ministry of Culture of China. YUAN Sha becomes an outstanding player in the new generation of the Chinese traditional music.