Born in Shanghai, Shen Guoqin was admitted into the Shanghai Chinese Orchestra Academy in 1978, studied under yangqin masters Zhou Hui and Ding Yan Yi, as well as percussion with Xue Bao Lun and Li Min Xiong. Between 1981 and 1997, he was a performer for both yangqin and percussion with the Shanghai Chinese Orchestra. During this period, he also won first prize at the 1st Jiangnan Si Zhu Competition and second prize at the 6th Shanghai Spring International Music Festival. He joined SCO as percussionist in 1997.

Shen Guoqin is also the music director and conductor of the Singapore Hsinghai Art Association Chinese Orchestra, conductor of Anglo-Chinese Junior College Chinese Orchestra, and the percussion instructor at numerous schools.