Chinese-born pianist Chen Liang is a recording artist for KNS Classical in Spain and a performing artist for Chengdu City Concert Hall in China. He has played with Chong Qing Philharmonic in China, the Greece Symphony Orchestra in New York and Lynn Philharmonic in Florida.

Chen is the winner of the Clara Schumann International Piano Competition, the Manhattan International Music Competition, the Lira International Piano Competition, the Big Arts Classical Music Scholarship Competition, and the Lynn Concerto Competition. He also won top prizes in many other competitions including ArsClassica International Piano Competition in Italy, Piano Texas Music Festival Concerto Competition and the Chautauqua Music Festival Piano Competition.

Currently, Chen serves as Vice President of South King County Music Teachers' Association in Seattle and Artistic Board for the Seattle International Piano Competition. He is also on the piano faculty at the Chopin Academy of Music. Chen performs as a Collaborative Pianist for the Pacific Northwest Ballet and the Seattle Choral Company. Before moving to Seattle, Chen was a former Piano Faculty at Eastman Community Music School in New York and an Adjunct Lecturer at the State University of New York at Geneseo (SUNY Geneseo). Back in China, Chen co-founded the Beyond Clouds summer piano festival in Chengdu and has been serving as the Artistic Director since 2018. Chen holds his degrees from Lynn University Conservatory of Music (BM) with Dr. Roberta Rust and the Eastman School of Music (MM, DMA), with Ms. Natalya Antonova.

Dr. Yi-Yang Chen shot onto the international stage with back-to-back victories in the 2018 Sussex International Piano Competition, 2017 Washington International Competition, and the Warning International Piano Competition. The Worthing Herald music critic Richard Amey praised his recent performance "flair for the unusual and his technical and artistic capacity to deliver," as well as his "musical and emotional intelligence, dexterity and virtuosity," listening to Chen as soloist in Saint-Saëns' Piano Concerto No.5 "Egyptian" with the Worthing Symphony Orchestra. His vibrant playing at the Pacific International Piano Competition (Canada) was recognized by the judges, who selected him for the first prize ("…Yi-Yang showed an impressive breadth of emotional investment and natural affinity for the music he played. The informed individuality and command of his performance was immediately compelling to the judges. We feel this young man has a fine future as an artist. He seems to 'own' the piano as he plays, and this makes his performance extremely powerful" - Dr. Robin McCabe).

Yi-Yang Chen is an assistant professor of piano at the University of Kansas and the Artist Director of the Orbifold Music Festival in California. Born in Taipei, Taiwan, Chen has been playing the piano since the age of 8. Yi-Yang completed his Doctor of Musical Arts And Bachelor's of Music at the Eastman School of Music with Douglas Humpherys, and his Master's degree at The Juilliard School with Robert McDonald and Jerome Lowenthal. He also has solo/chamber masterclasses with Itzhak Perlman, Emanuel Ax, Daniel Pollack, Joseph Kalichstein.

Yi-Yang Chen is a member of the Music Teachers National Association, College Music Society, and Mu Phi Epsilon. He enjoys swimming, biking, traveling, and composing. Yi-Yang is currently working on a recording project with Champs Hill label (UK); the release is scheduled for 2025. Before joining KU (University of Kansas), Yi-Yang served on the faculty at East Tennessee State University as a tenure-track professor.

Dr. Chen is a Steinway Artist.

Christina Wu, a Chinese-born violinist, is a versatile, charismatic, and passionate soloist, chamber musician. Prize winner of the Cynthia Woods Mitchell International Young Artist Competition, she has given numerous performances across Asia, North America, and Europe.

Currently serving as concertmaster in Cascade Symphony Orchestra, Christina also appears frequently with the Seattle Symphony Orchestra, played as principal second violin with the Seattle Chamber Orchestra, and Seattle Metropolitan Chamber Orchestra. As an active chamber musician, her recent chamber music engagement includes playing in the Classical KING FM 98.1 Northwest Focus LIVE, and performing in the concert series at Cascadia Art Museum.

Her past affiliations include playing first violin with Washington Symphony Orchestra, Singapore Symphony Orchestra, Westmoreland Symphony Orchestra, and Wheeling Symphony Orchestra. In 2010, she was a selected member of the Youth Orchestra of the World, performing at the Youth Olympics Games Opening Ceremony and Gala Concert. Her notable collaborations feature legends such as Leon Fleisher, Kiri Te Kanawa, the Vienna Boys' Choir, Jose Carreras, Joseph Silverstein, Lang Lang, Ray Chen, Midori Gotto.

Dr. Huixian Wu has performed widely as a solo and chamber musician at the Brancaleoni International Music Festival in Italy, the Gijón International Piano Festival in Spain, Carnegie Hall in USA, Suiyuan Music Hall in China, and at numerous academic institutions as a guest artist. Her artistic mission centers on expression, innovation, and interdisciplinary collaboration.

Through her performances, Dr. Wu seeks to rejuvenate existing musical expressions and foster connections beyond traditional music boundaries.

As a pianist, Dr. Wu has been recognized with numerous awards, including first prizes in the Charleston International Music Competition and the American Protégé International Piano and Strings Competition. Her research and performance work continue to shape the evolving landscape of music, drawing on both Western Classical traditions and contemporary innovations.

She has presented at College Music Society (CMS) conferences and Music Teachers National Association (MTNA) conferences at state and national levels.

Dr. Wu is an accomplished pianist and educator, currently serving as an Assistant Professor of Music/Keyboard at Talladega College. She earned her Doctor of Music in Piano Performance from Florida State University and holds a Master of Music in Piano Performance, along with a Post-Bachelor Certification in Historical Keyboard Performance, from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

Jianan Xu, a Chinese pianist, is earning praise from famous musician Solomon Mikowsky for his incredible technique and musical sensitivity.

Jianan completed his Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) in Piano Performance at the University of Kansas, where he also serves as a Graduate Teaching Assistant. He earned a Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degree from the Oberlin Conservatory of Music and Mannes School of Music, where he studied under professors Vladimir Feltsman, Alvin Chow, Alan Chow, and Angela Cheng. He also received specialized training in fortepiano with American keyboardist David Breitman. His foundational piano education began at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music in China, where he studied with Professors Shao Dan, Wu Ying, and Zhou Ting.

His vibrant performance at the Third Beethoven Festival Young Pianists Piano Competition was recognized by the judges, who selected him for the first prize and invited him to perform at a special concert during the Beethoven Festival in Bonn, Germany. Jianan also has amassed numerous awards, including first prize at the Charleston International Piano Competition, first prize at the Four Cities Piano Competition, second prize at the University of Kansas Piano Concerto Competition, semifinalist at the London International Concerto Competition, the Suzana Szorenyi International Duo Piano Competition in Bucharest, Romania, and the Wideman International Piano Competition. At the age of 12, he gave his first solo recital at the Shanghai Concert Hall. His performance career spans solo recitals and chamber music concerts across Spain, Germany, France, China, the United States, and Romania. As an advocate for piano duos and chamber music, he has consistently dedicated himself to various charitable performances. He has participated in numerous chamber music and piano duos concerts across China. In 2019, he organized and directed China's first multi-piano concert in Hangzhou. The concert caused a sensation and garnered significant attention across China, introducing audiences to diverse forms of piano performance.

Beyond his performance, Jianan is an accomplished piano teacher. He received a piano pedagogy cognate from the University of Kansas. He has taught at the Shanghai Experimental School and the University of Kansas School of Music. His students have gained admission to conservatories worldwide, including Michigan State University, Mannes School of Music, Lynn University, Xi'an Conservatory, and the Shanghai Conservatory of Music. As an active jury member, Jianan has served in renowned competitions such as the Shanghai International Piano Competition and the Liszt International Youth Piano Competition. He is an honorary member of both the Shanghai Musicians Association and the Piano Committee of the Shanghai Musicians Association. Jianan is currently working on a recording project with the Blue Griffin label; the release is scheduled for the end of 2025.

Dr. Barr earned degrees in church music and choral conducting from Westminster Choir College (B.M.), Southern Methodist University (M.M., M.S.M.), and the University of Michigan (D.M.A.). He has served as organist and choir director at churches in Alabama, Michigan, New Jersey and Texas.

Under Dr. Barr's direction, the Tuskegee Choir has toured the Midwestern and East Coast regions of the United States, and the San Francisco Bay Area. The Choir has also presented numerous concerts throughout the Southeast.

As an organ recitalist, Dr. Barr has twice been a featured organist at the Colour of Music Festival in Charleston, South Carolina. He is also a music workshop clinician.

Dr. Barr is co-director of the Italian Opera Study Abroad Program, which offers students of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) a four-week study of Italian opera with a renowned coach in Italy.

Dr. Barr is a member of the American Choral Directors Association, the National Association of Negro Musicians, and the American Guild of Organists. He is also actively involved in the Tuskegee community through the Optimist Club, an organization that supports children and youth, and through the Tuskegee Repertory Theatre.

Chinese-born pianist Chen Liang is a recording artist for KNS Classical in Spain and a performing artist for Chengdu City Concert Hall in China. He has played with Chong Qing Philharmonic in China, the Greece Symphony Orchestra in New York and Lynn Philharmonic in Florida.

Chen is the winner of the Clara Schumann International Piano Competition, the Manhattan International Music Competition, the Lira International Piano Competition, the Big Arts Classical Music Scholarship Competition, and the Lynn Concerto Competition. He also won top prizes in many other competitions including ArsClassica International Piano Competition in Italy, Piano Texas Music Festival Concerto Competition and the Chautauqua Music Festival Piano Competition.

Currently, Chen serves as Vice President of South King County Music Teachers' Association in Seattle and Artistic Board for the Seattle International Piano Competition. He is also on the piano faculty at the Chopin Academy of Music. Chen performs as a Collaborative Pianist for the Pacific Northwest Ballet and the Seattle Choral Company. Before moving to Seattle, Chen was a former Piano Faculty at Eastman Community Music School in New York and an Adjunct Lecturer at the State University of New York at Geneseo (SUNY Geneseo). Back in China, Chen co-founded the Beyond Clouds summer piano festival in Chengdu and has been serving as the Artistic Director since 2018. Chen holds his degrees from Lynn University Conservatory of Music (BM) with Dr. Roberta Rust and the Eastman School of Music (MM, DMA), with Ms. Natalya Antonova.

Christina Wu, a Chinese-born violinist, is a versatile, charismatic, and passionate soloist, chamber musician. Prize winner of the Cynthia Woods Mitchell International Young Artist Competition, she has given numerous performances across Asia, North America, and Europe.

Currently serving as concertmaster in Cascade Symphony Orchestra, Christina also appears frequently with the Seattle Symphony Orchestra, played as principal second violin with the Seattle Chamber Orchestra, and Seattle Metropolitan Chamber Orchestra. As an active chamber musician, her recent chamber music engagement includes playing in the Classical KING FM 98.1 Northwest Focus LIVE, and performing in the concert series at Cascadia Art Museum.

Her past affiliations include playing first violin with Washington Symphony Orchestra, Singapore Symphony Orchestra, Westmoreland Symphony Orchestra, and Wheeling Symphony Orchestra. In 2010, she was a selected member of the Youth Orchestra of the World, performing at the Youth Olympics Games Opening Ceremony and Gala Concert. Her notable collaborations feature legends such as Leon Fleisher, Kiri Te Kanawa, the Vienna Boys' Choir, Jose Carreras, Joseph Silverstein, Lang Lang, Ray Chen, Midori Gotto.

Mr. Yuan Fang, professor of violin, founder and head of the Orchestral Instruments Department of China Conservatory of Music, Beijing, and Deputy Director of China Youth Philharmonic.

Visiting Professor of University of Washington and Oberlin Conservatory of Music and Western Michigan University, Faculty member of Midwest University Graduate School of Music.

As a jury member of the China National Violin and Piano Competition, the Thomas and Evon Cooper International Violin Competition, the Shlomo-Mint International Violin Competition, the Singapore International Music Competition, Joseph Bologne Chevalier de Saint-Georges International Violin Competition, and the Performing Arts Festival of the Eastside (PAFE).

Praised for her beautiful singing by The Stratford Herald for her performance in England, international mezzo-soprano Katie H. Stevenson has enjoyed an operatic career that spanned Germany, Ireland, Canada, and across the U.S.

Prior to her time abroad, she lived in NYC where her career blossomed and she performed numerous opera roles along the East Coast such as Carmen and Mercedes in Carmen, Romeo in I Capuleti e I Montecchi, Dorabella in Cosi fan tutte, and Emilia in Otello, along with concert appearances at DiCapo Opera, Opera Collective, and Opera on Tap NYC.

During her years in Anchorage Alaska, Katie performed with the Anchorage Opera as well as the Anchorage Concert Choir Association. As a Young Artist she performed the role of The Secretary in The Consul and Dorabella in Cosi fan tutte in Young Artist programs in Canada and North Carolina.

Since moving to Seattle in 2015 she has performed roles and concerts with Pacific Northwest Opera, Puget Sound Concert Opera, Northwest Opera In Schools Etc., Seattle Modern Opera Company, Bellevue Festival of the Nativity, and the Ladies' Musical Club.

In addition to performing, Katie teaches voice and piano to young students and is active on the board for the Puget Sound Chapter of NATS.

Pianist Yalan Piao, originally from China, is an active soloist and collaborative pianist who has performed extensively in concert halls and churches across the United States, Italy, and China.

As a soloist, Dr. Piao has earned top prizes in the Marquette Symphony Orchestra Young Artist Concerto Competition and the American Protégé Competition. She has given solo recitals at renowned venues including the Shanghai Concert Hall, He Luting Concert Hall, Kresge Hall at Madonna University, and numerous churches throughout the Metro Detroit area. Her recent performances include a recital tour in Alaska, where she was featured as soloist. She has also participated in esteemed music festivals such as the Gilmore Keyboard Festival, BIMFA on the Road International Music Festival, and Walnut Hill Music Festival.

As a collaborative pianist, Dr. Piao has worked with a wide range of instrumentalists and orchestras in both China and the United States. Her performances have taken place at prominent venues such as Shanghai Concert Hall and Chongqing Symphony Orchestra Hall, as well as in Michigan at Jackson College's Potter Center, Chelsea High School with the Jackson Symphony Orchestra, Dawson Auditorium with the Adrian Symphony Orchestra, and the Brighton Center for the Performing Arts with the Michigan Philharmonic. She has also performed in Italy with vocalists and cellists as part of the Centro Studi Della Giacoma program. In addition, she has served as a staff pianist at the Interlochen Arts Camp, the Stulberg International String Competition, Collabfest, and the North American Saxophone Alliance Conference.

Beyond the stage, Dr. Piao is a passionate educator. She has served as a mentor at Celebrating the Spectrum: A Festival for Music and Life, a program for young pianists with autism at Michigan State University. She is a sought-after adjudicator for piano competitions and has successfully guided her students through programs such as RCM, MMTA's Student Achievement Testing, and the American Guild of Music. She currently serves on the Member at Large for the Livonia Area Piano Teachers Forum (LAPTF), and will serve as the Michigan Regional Director for the 2026 Orbifold Competition.

Jinhyun Kim is a celebrated cellist from South Korea, renowned for her exceptional artistry and dynamic performances. Currently, she holds the prestigious role of Principal Cellist with the Lansing Symphony Orchestra and serves as the Assistant Principal Cellist with the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra. In addition to her regular positions, Jinhyun is a substitute musician with both the Detroit Opera and Detroit Symphony Orchestra, showcasing her versatility and adaptability across diverse musical settings. She also collaborates with the Jackson Symphony and Flint Symphony and is a core member of ConTempus Initiative, a prominent new music ensemble based in mid-Michigan.

Beyond her performance career, Jinhyun is deeply committed to music education. She serves as an Adjunct Professor of Cello at Albion College, Oakland University and Spring Arbor University, and is also a dedicated cello faculty member at the Flint School of Performing Arts. Jinhyun holds certification from the Suzuki Association of the Americas as a registered Suzuki teacher and is a member of the American String Teachers Association. Her extensive experience includes serving on audition and competition panels for both student and professional orchestras, where she offers valuable insights to nurture emerging talent.

Jinhyun's musical journey began at the age of eight, laying the foundation for a remarkable career. She earned her Bachelor of Music degree at Ewha Womans University in South Korea, where she took her initial steps in the world of music. Her quest for excellence led her to Michigan State University, where she achieved both her Masters of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees. During her time at MSU, she contributed as a graduate teaching assistant, all while earning recognition through esteemed awards and grants.

Jinhyun's recent performance highlights include a celebrated solo appearance with the Livingston Symphony Orchestra, where she performed as a concerto soloist to great acclaim. Her talent has graced renowned stages and garnered acclaim. She marked her musical journey with a debut concert at Kumho Art Hall in Seoul, Korea in 2011. Notably, she had the privilege of participating in a master class with celebrated cellist Yo-Yo Ma at the Fairchild Theater at MSU in November 2013. Her musical prowess was further showcased when she triumphed in the Michigan State University honors competition, leading to a stellar performance as a concerto soloist with the MSU Symphony Orchestra at the Wharton Center in March 2014. This performance was even broadcast multiple times on 90.5 WKAR.

Jinhyun's musical journey has also taken her to Carnegie Hall in New York, where she performed twice, for the American Protégé International Piano and Strings Competition 2016 Winners Recital and for the first prize winner concert of the 2019 Golden Classical Music Awards.

A remarkable chapter in Jinhyun's career unfolded at the National Orchestral Institute Festival 2016 at the University of Maryland. There, she had the privilege of collaborating with distinguished conductors such as James Ross, Teddy Abrams, and Osmo Vänskä. Her contributions to the National Orchestral Institute Philharmonic's recordings, including Thompson: Symphony No. 2, were celebrated by Naxos Records.

Jinhyun's artistry extends beyond traditional orchestral settings. She has been a pivotal figure as the Principal Cellist with Detroit Chamber Winds and Strings, contributing to a performance of Richard Einhorn's Voices of Light at the Detroit Institute of Arts in March 2018. Furthermore, she showcased her soloist abilities as a cellist in the Michigan Opera Theatre's fall 2020 production, Twilight: Gods. Her performance garnered rave reviews in prominent publications, including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Opera News, and The New Yorker.

Jinhyun Kim's dedication to her craft and her significant contributions to the world of classical music are a testament to her unwavering commitment and exceptional talent. Her continued journey promises to be a source of inspiration to musicians and music enthusiasts alike.

Barbara Wiltsie, mezzo-soprano, has soloed with numerous symphonies, chorale groups and opera companies throughout the Midwest; including the DSO, Southwestern Michigan Symphony, Toledo Symphony, Bach Festival of Kalamazoo, Mendelssohn Chorale of Pittsburgh, The Singers Club of Cleveland, Opera!Lenawee, Michigan Opera Theater, Des Moines Metro Opera, Fargo-Moorhead Civic Opera, and Toledo Opera. A former long-time Michigan Opera Theatre Touring Artist, she has garnered many awards, such as the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions as a two-time Regional finalist, winner of the Friedrich Schorr Memorial Performance Prize and a winner in the NOA Artist Awards.

Her operatic roles with noted opera companies include Carmen, Cherubino, Hansel, Dido, Mercedes, Dorabella, Dinah, Prince Orlofsky, Kate Pinkerton, Giovanna, and La Ciesca. Orchestral works as soloist include Mozart's C Minor Mass, Bach's St. Matthew Passion, Handel's Messiah, Mozart's Requiem Mass, and Stravinski's Oedipus Rex.

Wiltsie's directed shows over the past 20 years with Lyric Theatre include The Phantom of the Opera, The Secret Garden, Godspell, Urinetown, Brigadoon, Fiddler on the Roof, A Christmas Carol, Little Shop of Horrors, Gianni Schicchi, The Magic Flute, Brundibar, and The Pirates of Penzance. She has also produced shows which she was the playwright utilizing operatic or musical theatre selections: Opéra en Seville, Vienna to the Theresienstadt Ghettos, and Here's A How-de-do (Gilbert & Sullivan music).

A recipient of the Madonna University 2004 Teaching of Excellence Adjunct Faculty award, her full-time duties since 2006 include Director and 2003 founder of Lyric Theatre, vocal related courses and additional courses related to theatre and music business management. In 2017 she became Chair of the Music Department, now titled Program Director-Music as part of the Department of Art, Music, and Dance.

In addition to her university duties, Wiltsie was the Founder and Managing Director/Vocal instructor for the Madonna University Summer Music Theater Intensive for high school students, and is a sought-after adjudicator for MSVMA, NATS and other musical organizations. She is Co-Director of the Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition Auditions - Michigan Committee, and Board Member for the Livonia Symphony Orchestra.

A “thoughtful musician well beyond his years” (The Republic), pianist Sean Chen shares his “alluring, colorfully shaded renditions” (The New York Times) and “genuinely sensitive” (Los Angeles Times) playing with audiences around the world in solo and chamber recitals, concerto performances, and masterclasses, after having won the 2013 American Piano Awards, placing third at the 2013 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, and being named a 2015 Annenberg Fellow. Mr. Chen is the Jack Strandberg/Missouri Endowed Chair Associate Professor of Piano at the University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory.

Mr. Chen has performed with many prominent orchestras, including the Fort Worth, Indianapolis, Kansas City, San Diego, Knoxville, Hartford, Louisiana Philharmonic, Milwaukee, North Carolina, Pasadena, Phoenix, Santa Fe, and New West Symphony Orchestras, as well as the Chamber Orchestras of Philadelphia, Indianapolis, and South Bay. He has collaborated with such esteemed conductors as Leonard Slatkin, Michael Stern, Gerard Schwarz, Nicholas McGegan, Miguel Harth-Bedoya, Marcelo Lehninger, and James Judd. Solo recitals have brought him to major venues worldwide, including Jordan Hall in Boston, Subculture in New York City, the American Art Museum at the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C., the National Concert Hall in Taipei, Het Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, and the Salle Cortot in Paris.

Mr. Chen has served on the juries of notable piano competitions, including PianoArts, American Piano Awards, Cliburn Junior, Thailand International Piano Competition, West Virginia International Piano Competition, Cleveland International Piano Competition for Young Artists, and Steinway competitions around the country. Given his natural inclination for teaching and approachable personality, Mr. Chen is particularly in demand for residencies that combine performances with master classes, school concerts, and artist conversations, which have brought him to such institutions as the Cleveland Institute of Music, Indiana University, University of British Columbia, University of Houston Moores School, Spotlight Awards at the Los Angeles Music Center, Young Artist World Piano Festival, and several Music Teachers’ Associations throughout the country.

Mr. Chen has been featured in both live and recorded performances on WQXR (New York), WFMT (Chicago), WGBH (Boston), WFYI (Indianapolis), KCUR (Kansas City), KPR (Kansas), NPR’s From the Top, and American Public Media’s Performance Today. Additional media coverage includes a profile featured on the cover of Clavier Companion in May 2015, recognition as “One to Watch” by International Piano Magazine in March 2014, and inclusion in WFMT’s “30 Under 30.” He is the host of the show Sounds Like with Sean Chen on Classical KC.

His CD releases include the 2021 all-Ravel digital album on the Steinway & Sons label, featuring Sonatine and Le Tombeau de Couperin; La Valse, another solo recording on the Steinway label, featuring Mr. Chen's own arrangement of La Valse and hailed for “penetrating artistic intellect” (Audiophile Audition); a live recording from the Cliburn Competition released by harmonia mundi, praised for his “ravishing tone and cogently contoured lines” (Gramophone); an album of Michael Williams’s solo piano works on the Parma label; and an album of flute, oboe, and piano repertoire titled KaleidosCoping with colleagues Michael Gordon and Celeste Johnson. Mr. Chen has also contributed to the catalog of Steinway’s Spirio system.

A multifaceted musician, Mr. Chen also transcribes, composes, and improvises. He has completed a transcription of Ysaÿe's Violin Sonata No. 3 for two pianos, commissioned by 88Squared duo. His composition Daydream No. 1 - Steps (2021) was commissioned as a gift for the retirement of American Piano Awards’ former President/CEO. His transcriptions of such orchestral works as Ravel’s La Valse, Dukas’s L'apprenti sorcier, Mozart’s Overture to The Marriage of Figaro, and the Adagio from Rachmaninoff’s Symphony No. 2 have been received with glowing acclaim and enthusiasm, and his encore improvisations are lauded as “genuinely brilliant” (Dallas Morning News). An advocate of new music, Mr. Chen has also collaborated with several composers and performed works by Lisa Bielawa, Jennifer Higdon, Michael Williams, Nicco Athens, Michael Gilbertson, and Reinaldo Moya.

Born in Florida, Mr. Chen grew up in Oak Park, California. His achievements before college include the NFAA ARTSweek, Los Angeles Music Center’s Spotlight, and 2006 Presidential Scholars awards. Choosing to study music, Mr. Chen earned his Bachelor and Master of Music from Juilliard and later received his Artist Diploma in 2014 at the Yale School of Music as a George W. Miles Fellow. His teachers include Hung-Kuan Chen, Edward Francis, Jerome Lowenthal, and Matti Raekallio.

Mr. Chen resides in the suburbs of Kansas City with his wife, Betty, a violinist in the Kansas City Symphony, and their daughters Ella and Maeve. When not at the piano, he enjoys tinkering with computers and exploring math, science, and programming. Mr. Chen is a Steinway Artist and is managed by Jonathan Wentworth Associates, Ltd.

Dr. Sun-Young Gemma Shin is a sought-after performer on baroque and modern violin as a soloist, chamber musician, and orchestra leader, having performed throughout the United States and Asia at venues such as Carnegie Hall, Symphony Center in Chicago, and the Getty Center.

An active collaborator, Dr. Shin has performed with the Grammy Award-winning Pacifica Quartet and the Martha Graham Dance Company and has appeared with leading ensembles such as the Lyric Opera of Chicago, the Joffrey Ballet, the Kansas City Symphony Orchestra, Sarasota Opera, the Sarasota Orchestra, and the Naples Philharmonic. She is also co-founder of DeSota Baroque, a historically informed ensemble.

Dr. Shin currently serves on the faculty at the University of Kansas. Previously, she held teaching positions at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Illinois State University, Illinois Wesleyan University, and the State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota. Her students have gone on to study at institutions including Northwestern University and the Peabody Institute of Music, and many hold professional orchestral positions across the United States and Korea. Her recording of Czerny Piano Trios on Naxos was broadcast on the BBC and is available on major streaming platforms.

She earned her Bachelor of Music degree from Oberlin College-Conservatory of Music, Master's degree and Performance Certificate from Northwestern University, and Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Her principal teachers include Gregory Fulkerson, Almita and Roland Vamos, and Simin Ganatra of the Pacifica Quartet.

Dr. Shin frequently performs with her husband, trumpeter Dr. Aaron Romm, and her mother-in-law, Steinway Artist Avis Romm.

Hailed as “exquisite” by Gramophone, Greek-American soprano Stella Markou has performed internationally as a soloist in oratorio, opera, and on the concert stage. She has been a featured guest artist with the Edinburgh Contemporary Musical Ensemble, The Consulate General of Greece, Union Avenue Opera, Masterworks Chorale, Nassau Music Society, Dance New Amsterdam Company, American Chamber Chorale, University of Nevada Las Vegas Concert Series, Ambassadors of Harmony, and the Nashville Ballet.

A passionate performer of contemporary music, her festival work includes the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Heidelberg New Music Festival, International Computer Music Conference, Paros Parks Festival, Naxos Music Festival, Siletz Bay Music Festival, Electronic Music Midwest, Xortos Music Festival, and the Society for Electro-Acoustic Music (SEAMUS).

Her stage performances include roles in Pique Dame, Die Zauberflöte, The Turn of the Screw, The Mikado, The Telephone, and The Songstress, among others. She has also been a featured soloist in several masterworks, including Orff's Carmina Burana, Fauré's Requiem, Haydn’s Lord Nelson Mass, Brahms’ Ein deutsches Requiem, Handel’s Messiah, Poulenc’s Gloria, Mozart’s Requiem, Rutter’s Gloria, and Bach’s Jauchzet Gott in allen landen.

Dr. Markou’s previous appointments were as Director of Vocal Studies and Opera Theatre at the University of Missouri-St. Louis and teaching artist for Opera Theatre of St. Louis’ Artist in Training Program. During her tenure at the University of Missouri-St. Louis she built an opera program from the ground up, producing, directing, and designing fifteen years of opera scenes and fully staged productions. Her productions of The Clever Artifice of Harriet and Margaret and The Pirates of Penzance won first prize in the National Opera Association’s opera production competition, and her production of The Medium won first prize in The American Prize opera production competition.

Szu-Chia Lin is a Taiwanese pianist and collaborative pianist with an established international performance profile spanning Asia, Europe, and the United States. She has appeared in both solo and chamber settings at notable venues, including the National Central Military Club in Bulgaria, Castello dei Brancaleoni in Italy, and the I.J. Paderewski Concert Hall in Tarnów, Poland, and in 2024 was featured as piano soloist in a concerto performance with the Tarnów Chamber Orchestra in Poland.

Recognized for her versatility and distinctive musical voice, Lin has collaborated with instrumentalists in recital and concert performances across the United States, Europe, and Asia. Her artistic development includes masterclasses with internationally acclaimed musicians, including Gary Graffman, Alexander Kobrin, Alexander Korsantia, Mario Häring, Tatiana Brizhanova, and Jennifer Hayghe.

Lin holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Kansas, a Master of Music degree from Boston University, and a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Taipei.

A graduate of Yale University School of Music, Anton Smirnov began his piano studies at the age of seven in Novosibirsk, Russia. He has made more than 1,500 public performances worldwide at venues that include Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center's Avery Fischer Hall, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Upon his graduation from Novosibirsk Conservatory, he moved to the US and graduated from Oberlin Conservatory with an Artist Diploma in 2010.

Anton is a dedicated and gifted teacher: his students have won numerous prizes at national and international competitions. Besides teaching piano, Mr. Smirnov enjoys teaching chamber groups and conducting string orchestras.

As a soloist, Anton is a prizewinner of several international piano competitions including the Moscow International Competition for Young Musicians, International Russian Music Piano Competition in San Jose, CA, Oberlin Concerto Competition, Corpus Christi International Concerto Competition, Louisiana International Piano Competition, the NTD International Piano Competition in New York, and others. He has performed as a soloist with various orchestras including the Tomsk Philharmonic Orchestra, Omsk Philarmonic Orchestra, San Jose Symphony and the Oberlin Orchestra. As a chamber musician, Anton collaborated with the members of Quatuor Ebene; double bass players Edgar Meyer and Eugene Levinson, violinists Simone Perter, Mark Kaplan and Grigory Sokolovsky, violist Barbara Westphal, Antonio Lysy, and many others.

Anton has participated in many international music festivals including International Program New Names, Casalmaggiore International Music Festival, Banff International Master Classes, and Sarasota International Music Festival. Anton is a member of the collaborative faculty at The Heifetz International Music Institute. He participates in the Heifetz on Tour music series, performing chamber music with finest young string players.

As of now, Anton is Head of Piano Department at Russian School of Music in Irvine, CA.

Kookhee Hong, a native of South Korea, began piano lessons at age four and won first prizes in numerous Korean national competitions. She continued her studies at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia under tutelage of Elenor Sokoloff. She appeared in master classes by Emanuel Ax, Gary Graffman, Claude Frank, Sergio Perticaroli, Lev Natocheny and Peter Eicher.

As a full scholarship student of Solomon Mikowsky, Dr. Hong completed Bachelor and Master of Music Degrees, Professional Studies Diploma and Doctor of Musical Arts Degree at the Manhattan School of Music. She won first prize at the Carlet International Competition in Valencia, second prize at the Maria Canals International Competition in Barcelona, the audience prize and Alicia de Larrocha Spanish prize at the Andorra International Competition, and was also a prize winner at the Panama International Competition.

Frequently in demand as a recitalist abroad, she also appeared as a soloist with the Tenerife Symphony, the Manhattan Symphony, the Carlet Sinfonia, the Gran Canaria Philharmonic and the Panama National Symphony Orchestra. Dr. Hong currently teaches as an adjunct professor at Hope International University and Irvine Valley College. Her students have been accepted to prestigious music schools such as California State University, Fullerton, University of California Los Angeles and Eastman School of Music.

Ariana Solotoff, originally from New York, lives and works in Los Angeles as a performer and teacher of violin and viola.

Ms. Solotoff earned her Bachelor's degree from The Juilliard School under the mentorship of Michael Tree and Masao Kawasaki, and her Masters from the Haute École de Musique de Genève in Switzerland where she studied with Miguel Da Silva. While in Geneva, she was a recipient of the prestigious Hans Wilsdorf Foundation Scholarship Award.

Ariana has performed with many chamber and symphonic orchestras across the US and Europe including Los Angeles Philharmonic, Kaleidoscope Chamber Orchestra, Camerata Venia, Hulencourt Symphony Orchestra, Camerata Regală and Orchestra Națională Radio România.

She has made appearances on the Grammy Awards, Video Game Music Awards and Disney Channel, and recorded in several film soundtracks, pop and rock albums for artists such as Beyoncé, Yendry, Mergui and others. She has also performed live with Kelly Clarkson, Sheléa, Twenty One Pilots and joined the Yeah Yeah Yeahs for their Hidden In Pieces tour in 2025.

As an educator, Ariana runs the Pascale Music Program where she teaches violin, viola and piano. She is also on faculty at Montecito International Music Festival, Idyllwild Arts Intensive Summer Music Program and Cremona International Music Academy in Italy.

Ariana is the creator and director of Popsical Music, an initiative driven by her passion for making classical music accessible to all. She is dedicated to encouraging newcomers to explore and engage with the genre in a welcoming and inspiring way. Ariana's mission is to introduce as many young children and families as possible to the beauty and richness of classical music.

Boryana Popova is a Los Angeles-based concert violinist, session player, and violin teacher. Born in Bulgaria, Boryana arrived in Los Angeles in 2007 where she completed both her Masters and Doctorate degrees in violin performance at UCLA. She has performed as a soloist, chamber, and orchestra musician throughout Europe and The United States.

Praised by Chopin Magazine for his "transparent, beautiful tone and thoughtful interpretation," Taiwanese-American pianist Evan Wong is the Silver Medalist and audience prize winner of the 6th Sendai International Competition in Japan. He has concertized throughout North America, Europe, and Asia as a soloist and chamber musician.

Recent highlights include a six-city tour in the US, four concerts in Japan (Tokyo, Sendai), concerto appearances with the National Taiwan Symphony Orchestra, Kaohsiung Symphony Orchestra, and an all-Debussy recital in collaboration with French animation artist Grégoire Pont at the 2025 Weiwuying International Music Festival curated by renowned composer Unsuk Chin.

During his US tour, The Boston Musical Intelligencer commended his sensibilities, ravishing pianissimos, and effortless playing, noting it was one of the finest performances of anything ever heard.

Most recently, Wong released his second album, EARTHING, in February 2024, featuring works by composer Shiuan Chang that aim to raise mental health awareness. His debut album, under the Acousence Label, was released in Germany in 2020. He has also recorded for MPR (Minnesota, USA), WFMT (Chicago, USA), KBS (South Korea), Shanghai Classical 94.7 (China), and several Taiwan stations including Taipei Classical, Radio Taiwan International, National Education, Bravo 91.3, and Voice of Han.

A frequent guest at renowned festivals, Wong has performed at Verbier, Lucerne, Ravinia, Aspen, Gilmore, Taiwan International Festival of Arts, Weiwuying International Music Festival, and Sendai Classical Festival. He has appeared as a soloist with orchestras including the Sendai Philharmonic, Orchestre Royal de Chambre de Wallonie, Orquesta de Cámara de Bellas Artes de México, Southern Illinois Festival Orchestra, Taipei Philharmonic Orchestra, National Taiwan Symphony Orchestra, Evergreen Symphony Orchestra, Kaohsiung Symphony Orchestra, Taipei Century Symphony Orchestra, and New Sendai Philharmonic.

He has collaborated with conductors such as Pascal Verrot, Julian Kuerti, Victor Yampolsky, Shao-Chia Lu, Ichiro Nodaira, Dorian Wilson, Daniela Candillari, Paul Meyer, Yuri Nitta, Edward Benyas, Kuokman Lio, Seitaro Ishikawa, Tung-Chieh Chuang, Gernot Schmalfuss, and Ludwig Carrasco.

Wong holds degrees from the Hochschule für Musik, Theater und Medien Hannover in Germany (Konzertexamen), Northwestern University's Bienen School of Music (D.M.A.), The Juilliard School (M.M.), and the New England Conservatory (B.M.).

Currently, he is full-time piano faculty of Taipei National University of the Arts and has held masterclasses in the US, Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan. Wong has also taught at Harbin Conservatory of Music in China as their Distinguished Professor and served on the faculties of the University of Taipei and Fu Jen University.

Hungarian-American pianist Peter Klimo has been fortunate to take his performing talents around the world and is always looking to share his passion for music and the piano. Following his 2nd prize victory at the 2014 International Franz Liszt Piano Competition, Peter embarked on several concert tours, notably throughout Holland, the US, and South Korea. Having participated in several other international competitions as well, Peter won 3rd prize at the 2019 Bartók World Piano Competition, 3rd prize at the 2019 Bösendorfer International Piano Competition, as well as special prizes at the 2017 Maj Lind and 2014 Wideman International Piano Competitions.

Recent performance highlights include a concerto performance with the Youth Orchestras of Fresno conducted by Thomas Loewenheim, chamber music as part of CSUN's annual Chamberfest, a solo recital at the Hungarian Embassy in Washington D.C. as part of the Embassy Recital Series, solo recitals at both California State University Northridge and CSU Fresno, a concerto performance in Budapest, Hungary with conductor Nimrod Pfeffer and the Hungarian National Philharmonic, and two further concerto performances with the Fresno State Symphony Orchestra. Peter has performed concerti in Budapest with the HNPO under the baton of Zsolt Hamar as well as with Gergely Ménesi and the Liszt Academy Symphony Orchestra; Phoenix, Arizona, with Matthew Kasper and the Phoenix Symphony; Seoul, South Korea with Hee-Chuhn Choi and the KBS Symphony Orchestra as well as with Dae-Jin Kim and the Seoul Arts Center Festival Orchestra; Los Angeles, California with John Roscigno and the 52nd American Liszt Society Festival Orchestra; and Columbus, Georgia with George del Gobbo and the Columbus Symphony Orchestra.

Also an avid chamber musician, Peter toured with violinist Tessa Lark in the US and Holland, and with the Belenus Quartet in Austria and Holland. He performed Bartók's Sonata for Two Pianos and Percussion at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C., at Sprague Hall at the Yale School of Music with all members playing from memory, throughout Holland in 2016 with winners of the International Tromp Percussion Competition, as well as at the Dakota Sky International Piano Festival. Most recently, Peter and his colleagues Limor Toren-Immerman and Thomas Loewenheim formed the Fresno State Piano Trio, with performances in Fresno and at UCLA.

A Los Angeles native, he began his piano studies at the age of nine with Vicharini and Rosanna Marzaroli, and continued with Dr. Tyler Tom while attending the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts. Peter earned his Bachelor's Degree from the Eastman School of Music studying with Dr. Nelita True, his Master's Degree from the Yale School of Music studying with Peter Frankl, an Artist Diploma from Texas Christian University with Dr. Tamás Ungár, and his Doctorate of Musical Arts in Performance and Literature at the Eastman School of Music with Alan Chow.

Passionate about education and sustaining the art form, Peter has given masterclasses at Cal State University Northridge, Azusa Pacific University, Hardin Simmons University, at both Los Angeles and Orange County High Schools for the Arts, for the Thousand Oaks Philharmonic Society and the Steinway Society of Western Pennsylvania, and served as a faculty member for the 2013 inaugural year of the DBS Summer Music Festival in Hong Kong. He is frequently called to adjudicate competitions both local and international, has maintained a private studio in Los Angeles, and is Assistant Professor of Piano at California State University Fresno.

Internationally celebrated pianist Dr. Maya Tuylieva has forged a remarkable path across four continents, earning widespread admiration for her profound artistry, emotional depth, commanding stage presence, and genuine conviction in every performance. A prodigy hailing from Turkmenistan (former USSR), she claimed her first competition prize at age six and delivered her national television debut at eight. She burst into prominence by securing first prize at the 2008 Cosmo & Buono International Piano Competition in New York, which launched her acclaimed debut at Carnegie Hall's Weill Recital Hall. She has since graced that iconic venue on multiple occasions, including three standout appearances in 2022 alone.

Her extensive performing resume features solo engagements on a Young Artist Tour in Italy, a recital at Tokyo's Kitayama Shimin Cultural Center in Japan, and the premiere of Turkmen composers' works at the International Festival 'Sounds of Dutar' in Moscow. In the United States she has appeared as soloist with the University of Kansas Orchestra and the Turkmen National Philharmonic Orchestra. A dedicated ensemble artist, she co-founded the Latitude 39 Trio alongside violinist Diana Seitz and saxophonist Nick May, an innovative group that fuses Turkmen, Ukrainian, and Azerbaijani musical legacies with new repertoire, with forthcoming recordings slated for Navona Records.

Dr. Tuylieva earned her Bachelor of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts in Piano Performance and Pedagogy from the University of Kansas, her Master of Music from Arizona State University, and a Post-Doctorate Professional Development Certificate from the Saint-Petersburg Conservatory in Russia.

A dynamic leader in music education, Dr. Tuylieva founded and serves as CEO and Master Teacher of the Music Academy of Kansas City, where she has guided hundreds of emerging artists since its inception. She is also the president of the Kansas City Young Chamber Musicians and has been appointed to the piano faculty at the University of Kansas School of Music.

Through her performances, teaching, and advocacy, Dr. Tuylieva continues to elevate classical music while championing the rich cultural heritage of her Turkmen roots, inspiring both concertgoers and the next generation of musicians.

Brazilian-American pianist Rafael Liebich has earned degrees from the State University of Campinas, the Federal University of the Rio Grande do Sul State, and a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the USC Thornton School of Music.

He was faculty and Artist-In-Residence at University of La Verne, and currently holds teaching positions at California State University - Los Angeles (CalStateLA), El Camino College, and Neighborhood Music School in Los Angeles (where he also acts as Director of Programs and Evaluation).

Much sought as a performer, collaborative, and recording artist, he has performed for various concert series throughout Southern California, and worked in studio recordings for soundtracks of short movies and documentaries.

An advocate of contemporary music, Dr. Liebich actively pursues embracing diversity in his performances as well as in his pedagogical practice.

He is a member of the International Society for Music Education, and his scholarly work includes publications in music analysis, music education and sociology, and music interpretation and aesthetics.

From USC Thornton School of Music he received honors such as the Keyboard Ensemble Award, the Keyboard Studies Department Award, as well as induction into the Pi Kappa Lambda National Music Honors Society.

In his spare time, Rafael enjoys long walks, traveling, and taking care of his orchids.

More on: http://rafaelliebich.wixsite.com/piano

Korean-Dutch violinist Dr. Hee Sagong is an accomplished performer and educator whose career spans orchestral, chamber, and solo performance. She joined the first violin section of the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra in 2016 while completing her Doctor of Musical Arts at the Eastman School of Music. During her nine-year tenure with the orchestra, the Buffalo Philharmonic received a Grammy Award and earned two consecutive nominations for Best Orchestral Performance.

As an orchestral musician, Dr. Sagong has performed extensively throughout Western and Central New York with ensembles including the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, The Syracuse Orchestra, Finger Lakes Opera, Ars Nova Chamber Orchestra, Camerata di Sant' Antonio, and Slee Sinfonietta. Since relocating to Orange County, California, in 2025, she has become a regular performer with the Pacific Symphony. While serving as a lecturer at SUNY Buffalo State University, she was also concertmaster of the Buffalo State Philharmonia during the 2018–2019 academic year. As soloist, she has appeared with both Ars Nova Chamber Orchestra and Camerata di Sant' Antonio.

Dr. Sagong began studying the violin at age seven. At fifteen, she was admitted to the Conservatorium van Amsterdam's Preparatory Program, where she studied with Alexander Kerr, former concertmaster of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra. She continued her studies with Kerr at Indiana University, graduating with distinction with a Bachelor of Music degree. She later earned both Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees from the Eastman School of Music, studying with the renowned violinist Oleh Krysa, a distinguished student of David Oistrakh. During her doctoral studies, she served as Krysa's teaching assistant for three years. Upon completing her master's degree, she received both the Performer's Certificate, recognizing exceptional performance ability, and the Orchestral Studies Diploma. She was also awarded the Buxton Fellowship and selected to perform in the Conservatory Project at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C.

A versatile musician with a deep interest in stylistic diversity, Dr. Sagong performs repertoire ranging from Baroque to contemporary works. Her doctoral lecture recital explored the contrasting musical languages of Alfred Schnittke's three Violin Sonatas. At Eastman, she served as concertmaster for several contemporary music ensembles, including Musica Nova, SoundExchange, and Ad Hoc Music, and led the Eastman Bach Cantata Chamber Orchestra in performances in Rochester, New York, and Toronto, Canada. In 2016, she also led the Empire Film Music Ensemble under the baton of Emmy Award-winning composer Jeff Beal in performances of his House of Cards Symphony sketches.

A prizewinner of the Interprovinciaal Concours, Prinses Christina Concours, and the AMIS International Solo and Ensemble Festival, Dr. Sagong has presented solo recitals throughout the Netherlands, Germany, England, and the United States. She has participated in distinguished festivals including the Lake George Music Festival, National Repertory Orchestra, Karl Flesch Akademie, and Orlando Chamber Music Festival. As concertmaster of the NJO Symphony and Chamber Orchestras, she toured the Netherlands, leading performances of works by composer-in-residence Steve Reich and symphonic repertoire at many of the country's premier concert venues, including the Royal Concertgebouw.

Dr. Chen has performed as a soloist at many of the world's leading venues across Asia, Europe, and North America, and has been featured on radio broadcasts on numerous occasions. His recent debuts at Taiwan's Taichung National Theatre and the National Kaohsiung Center for the Arts received widespread acclaim. A sought-after chamber musician and collaborator, he has shared the stage with many of today's most esteemed artists, including Alan Chow, Hagai Shaham, Jerome Lowenthal, Joseph Silverstein, Ida and Ani Kavafian, Gregory Kalinovsky, Shmuel Ashkenasi, Evan Wong, and others. He has also been invited to perform at major festivals such as the Aspen Music Festival, Sarasota Music Festival, Four Seasons Chamber Music Festival, and the Beijing International Music Festival, and is an alumnus of the Heifetz Institute and Meadowmount School of Music.

Dr. Chen began cello studies at the age of 13. He holds a Bachelor of Music degree from the Eastman School of Music, a Master of Music from Northwestern University, and a Doctor of Musical Arts (D.M.A.) in Cello Performance with a Cognate in Musicology from the Northwestern University. While completing his doctorate, he also served as a teaching assistant in the String Department at the Northwestern University. His principal mentors include Hans Jørgen Jensen, Steven Doane, and Ronald Leonard, each of whom played a formative role in his musical development, and an original style in cello pedagogy.

In addition to his performance career, Dr. Chen is a dedicated educator committed to nurturing the next generation of musicians. He currently serves on the faculty at the Colburn School of Performing Arts, California School of the Arts – San Gabriel Valley, Junior Chamber Music and Riverside City College. He also coaches students in the Claremont and Walnut Valley Unified School Districts and frequently mentors young musicians through the Youth Orchestra Los Angeles (YOLA) program. His students have won top prizes in national competitions, performed with elite youth orchestras in California, Illinois, Massachusetts, and have gone on to study at prestigious institutions such as the Manhattan School of Music, Johns Hopkins University and Northwestern University.

Taiwanese baritone Dr. WeiShu Tsai has been praised for his vocal artistry and dynamic stage presence, described as possessing "technical mastery and high-energy, contagious charisma." His repertoire spans from the early Renaissance era to contemporary works, and he has appeared in opera and concert productions throughout the United States and Taiwan with organizations including The Dallas Opera, Shreveport Opera, Alamo City Opera, Spotlight on Opera, Music on Site, Taiwan Philharmonic, National Taiwan Symphony Orchestra, National Chinese Orchestra Taiwan, Taipei Symphony Orchestra, Flower Mound Symphony Orchestra, and Monroe Symphony Orchestra. He is also a former member of the Taipei Philharmonic Chamber Choir, Taipei Philharmonic Opera Studio, and Taiwan Opera Studio.

An accomplished educator, Dr. Tsai has taught at the University of North Texas, Louisiana Tech University, Grambling State University, Tarrant County College, and Keller High School. His teaching experience includes classical, musical theater, and commercial voice, as well as courses in Vocal Pedagogy, Lyric Diction, Opera Workshop, Music Appreciation, and Music Theory/Aural Skills. Committed to student-centered and inclusive teaching, he seeks to cultivate technical excellence, artistic authenticity, and lifelong engagement with music. His students have earned recognition in regional and national competitions, performed leading roles in opera and musical theater productions, and continued their studies at highly regarded institutions across the nation.

As a scholar, Dr. Tsai's research focuses on Taiwanese art songs and vocal literature. He has presented his works at national and international conferences and universities throughout North America, including the International Congress of Voice Teachers, SHE: Festival of Women in Music, the Asian Classical Music Initiative National Conference, and NATS Regional Conferences. His current creative and scholarly projects include the promotion of Taiwanese vocal repertoire and collaborations on contemporary opera and song literature.

Dr. Tsai is an active advocate for music education and community engagement. He has served in leadership roles within the National Association of Teachers of Singing, contributed to curriculum development and recruitment initiatives, and worked extensively with community arts organizations. As the director of the North Central Louisiana Masterworks Chorus, he fosters artistic collaboration and community partnerships while promoting lifelong participation in the arts; as well is the current Governor-Elect for the NATS Southern Region, and will assume the role of Regional Governor in July 2027.

Dr. Tsai holds the Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Voice Performance from the University of North Texas and the Master of Music degree from National Taipei University of Education. He is an active member of the National Association of Teachers of Singing, the College Music Society, the Louisiana Music Educators Association, the Texas Music Educators Association, Pi Kappa Lambda National Music Honor Society, and the Association of Vocal Artists of Taiwan. He joins the University of Central Arkansas faculty in Fall 2026 as Assistant Professor of Voice.