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Andrew Yang, piano
June 21, 2016
Andrew Yang, piano
  • Robert Schumann: Fantasie in C Major, Op. 17
  • Franz Schubert: Impromptu No. 1 in C Minor, Op. 90
  • L. V. Beethoven: Sonata No. 32 in C Minor, Op. 111

 

Pianist Andrew Junglin Yang, 23, has performed extensively across the United States, Canada, and Europe. Julian Dawson, Former Associate Conductor of the Royal Scottish National Orchestra and the Glydbourne Festival Opera said of Yang: “He has a remarkable talent, his innate musical understanding combined with a fine technical facility [gives] him an ability to grasp the essence of each piece.” Festival appearances include Centre d’Arts Orford and Banff Centre in Canada, the Gijon International Piano Festival in Spain, the Austrian International Piano Festival, and the Mannes Sounds Festival, where he recently performed at the German Consulate at U.N. Plaza and The Union Club. While currently pursuing a M.M. in piano performance at Mannes College in New York City as a student of Pavlina Dokovska, Yang has an active performance schedule. Upcoming engagements in 2016-17 include a weeklong solo recital tour in Austria, solo concerts in Spain (Llanes, Ribadesella), and the Muzewest Concert Series in Vancouver.

While most interested in exploring the vast world of visceral emotions and poetic questions inherent to music, Yang has also been interested with activism and music entrepreneurship, hoping to create more resources/opportunities for musicians and to utilize music to enact meaningful societal change. While wary of the limitations of competitions in artistic advancement and originality (yet often an important part of helping a young musicians’ career – a dilemma indeed), he is glad to be the recipient of various awards. Most recently in 2016, he was a top prize winner of the 5th Metropolitan International Piano Competition. Other accolades include prizes at the 2013 International Heida Hermanns Piano Competition, 2014 Thaviu Issac Piano Competition, Los Angeles International Liszt Competition, SF Chopin Competition for Young Pianists, Menuhin/Dowling Musicians Competition, and the Evanston Music Club Competition.

Yang is touched and inspired by the journey and sacrifices his parents have made as Taiwanese immigrants, and is grateful for his mother, Jyeshwu, for her dedication to raising him with moral character and instilling passion in academia and the arts. Yang’s most important musical influence has surely been William Wellborn, whom he studied with at SF Conservatory Prep and continues to be a close mentor and teacher. Yang recently graduated from Northwestern University in 2015, with a BM/BA dual degree in piano performance (as a student of James Giles) and economics. He has played in dozens of lessons and masterclasses for artists such as Julian Dawson, Robert McDonald, Ilya Itin, Julian Martin, Marc Durand, and Dang Thai Son. Other influential studies include improvisation with Grammy-nominated Uri Caine and Artistry with DBR (Daniel Bernard Roumain). A former competitive athlete, Yang formerly trained in Krav Maga and Boxing at the Tier One Training Center in Evanston, IL; he was also on the Northwestern Boxing Team (2010-2012), and his high school badminton and basketball teams. He is also a classically-trained violinist, composer, casual singer/guitarist, and produces hip hop/electronic music. For more information, please visit www.andrewyangpiano.com.