Christina & Michelle Naughton
“Indeed, I’m ready to put them on a level with some of the greatest piano duos of our time...They have to be heard to be believed” said the Washington Post of Christina and Michelle Naughton. They have captivated audiences throughout the globe with the unity created by their mystical communication, as reported by the Wall Street Journal, in Christina’s own words, “There are times I forget we are two people playing together”. The Naughtons work as a duo was recently recognized in 2019 as they became the first piano duo to receive the Avery Fisher Career Grant presented by Lincoln Center.
Christina and Michelle Naughton’s career was launched in 2009 with a recital debut at Kennedy Center; and an orchestral debut at the Mann Center with the Philadelphia Orchestra, which led the Philadelphia Inquirer to characterize their playing as “paired to perfection”. Subsequently, they began their careers in Europe and Asia; at Munich’s Herkulesaal and with the Hong Kong Philharmonic respectively. These appearances were met with much critical acclaim, with the Suddeutsche Zeitung proclaiming the Naughtons an “outstanding piano duo” and the Sing Tao Daily responding by the description “Joining two hearts and four hands at two grand pianos, the Naughton sisters created an electrifying and moving musical performance”.
Especially passionate about American 20th century music, Christina and Michelle have immersed themselves in several projects devoted to this theme. 2019’s “American Postcard”, their second album of their exclusive signing with Warner Classics, showcases a variety of 20th century American compositions and commissions by composers such as John Adams, Aaron Copland, Conlon Nancarrow, and Paul Schoenfield. Additionally, they have done several premieres of works in capacities such as commissions by the LA Phil’s Green Umbrella series, a world premiere of John Adams’ “Roll Over Beethoven” at NYC ’s WQXR Greenespace, a European premiere of Paul Lansky’s “Shapeshifters” with Solistees Europeans Luxembourg, a weeklong American chamber music residency with musicians of the New World Symphony, and several concerts devoted to 20th century American music at Germany’s Klavierfestival Ruhr.
The Naughtons discography features a wide variety of musical styles. Their first album, released on the German label ORFEO in 2012 and recorded in Bremen’s Sendesaal; focuses heavily on traditional Classic and Romantic selections. It was praised by Der Spiegel Magazine for “stand(ing) out with unique harmony, and sing(ing) out with stylistic confidence, and described by ClassicsToday as a “Dynamic Duo Debut”. In February of 2016 they released their debut record on the Warner Classics label titled “Visions”. “Visions”, comprised of the music of Messiaen, Bach, and Adams; was shortly after its release chosen as “Editor’s Choice” by Gramophone Magazine.
Christina and Michelle have played as soloists with orchestras such as the Philadelphia Orchestra, Atlanta, Baltimore, Detroit, Hawaii, Houston, Milwaukee, Minnesota, Nashville, New Jersey, North Carolina, San Diego, St. Louis, Virginia Symphonies; the Buffalo and Naples Philharmonics, as well as The Mahler Chamber Orchestra, Royal Scottish National Orchestra, St. Petersburg Philharmonic, Royal Flemish Philharmonic (Belgium), l’Orchestre Philharmonique de Strasbourg, the Frankfurter Opern-and Museumsorchester, Hamburg Chorus, Kiel Philharmonic, Norddeutsche Philharmonic Rostock, the Netherlands Philharmonic at the Royal Concertgebouw, The Hong Kong Philharmonic, and New Zealand Symphony. Past and future seasons feature collaborations under the batons of conductors such as Stephane Deneve, Edo deWaart, Charles Dutoit, JoAnn Falletta, Giancarlo Guerrero, Emmanuel Krivine, Cristian Macelaru, Andres Orozco-Estrada, and Leonard Slatkin.
“Joining two hearts and four hands at two grand pianos, the Naughton sisters created an electrifying and moving musical performance.”
— SING TAO DAILY, HONG KONGChristina and Michelle Naughton are avid recitalists, performing for such notable organizations as Lincoln Center’s Great Performers, New York City’s Naumburg Orchestral Concert Series (Naumburg Bandshell at Central Park), Carnegie Weill Hall, Rockefeller Evening Concerts, le Poisson Rouge, Kennedy Center’s Terrace Theater (Washington Performing Arts), the National Gallery, the Smithsonian American Art Museum, St Paul’s Schubert Club, Los Angeles’s Walt Disney Hall, Atlanta’s Spivey Hall, Philharmonic Society of Orange County, Chamber Music San Francisco, Houston’s Cullen Theater, Fort Worth Texas’s Cliburn Series, Cornell Concert Series, Boston’s Gardner Museum, Kansas City’s Harriman Jewell Series, the Kravis Center and the Society of the Four Arts in Palm Beach; and in Europe at Glasgow’s Royal Concert Hall, Amsterdam’s Royal Concertgebouw, Dusseldorf’s Robert Schumann Saal, and Frankfurter Hof.
Frequent guests at festivals around the world, the Naughtons have appeared at American venues such as the La Jolla Music Society, Ravinia Festival, Fortas Chamber Music Festival, Gilmore Festival, Portland Piano International, Grand Tetons Music Festival, and the Virginia Arts Festival. They perform regularly at Germany’s renowned Klavierfestival Ruhr, as well as the Rheingau Musik Festival, Dresden’s Musikfestpiele, Kissinger Sommer, Bremen Music Festival, France’s La Roque d’Antheron Festival (Parc Du Chateau de Florans), Annecy Classic Festival (Bonlieu Scene Nationale) Nohant Festival Chopin, Festival Berlioz La Cote de Saint Andre, Zurich’s Tonhalle, and Prague’s Strings of Autumn Festival.
The Naughtons have undertaken several international tours. Berlin’s Kammermusiksaal, Munich’s Herkulesaal, Dusseldorf’s Tonhalle, Hannover’s Kleiner Sendesaal, Ingoldstadt’s Konzertverein, Reutlingen’s Freidrich-List-Halle, Pullach’s Burgerhaus, Concert Series in Ludwigshafen, and Homburg-Saar Series name some of the venues where their prolific German concertizing has taken place. Recitals throughout China include Beijing’s Forbidden City Concert Hall, Shenzhen Concert Hall, and Wuhan’s Qintai Concert Hall. Highlights of their extensive work in Latin America include Brazil's Orquesta Sinfonica do Estado Sao Paulo; Colombia’s Orquesta Filarmonica de Bogota, Biblioteca de Luis Angel, Medellin’s Teatro Metropolitano; Chile’s Fundacion Beethoven; Mexico City’s Palacio de las Bellas Artes, Puerto Rico’s Orquesta de Sinfonica Pablo Casal’s Festival, Portugal’s Casa da Musica Porto; and Spain’s Conciertos de Valencia, Foundation de Juan March (Madrid), Foundation Botin (Santander), Auditoria Teulada Moraira, and Enclave de Camera (Ourense).
Born in Princeton, New Jersey to parents of European and Chinese descent; Christina and Michelle are graduates of the Juilliard School and the Curtis Institute of Music, where they were each awarded the Festorazzi Prize. They are Steinway Artists and currently reside in New York City.
Christina and Michelle Naughton’s career was launched in 2009 with a recital debut at Kennedy Center; and an orchestral debut at the Mann Center with the Philadelphia Orchestra, which led the Philadelphia Inquirer to characterize their playing as “paired to perfection”. Subsequently, they began their careers in Europe and Asia; at Munich’s Herkulesaal and with the Hong Kong Philharmonic respectively. These appearances were met with much critical acclaim, with the Suddeutsche Zeitung proclaiming the Naughtons an “outstanding piano duo” and the Sing Tao Daily responding by the description “Joining two hearts and four hands at two grand pianos, the Naughton sisters created an electrifying and moving musical performance”.
Especially passionate about American 20th century music, Christina and Michelle have immersed themselves in several projects devoted to this theme. 2019’s “American Postcard”, their second album of their exclusive signing with Warner Classics, showcases a variety of 20th century American compositions and commissions by composers such as John Adams, Aaron Copland, Conlon Nancarrow, and Paul Schoenfield. Additionally, they have done several premieres of works in capacities such as commissions by the LA Phil’s Green Umbrella series, a world premiere of John Adams’ “Roll Over Beethoven” at NYC ’s WQXR Greenespace, a European premiere of Paul Lansky’s “Shapeshifters” with Solistees Europeans Luxembourg, a weeklong American chamber music residency with musicians of the New World Symphony, and several concerts devoted to 20th century American music at Germany’s Klavierfestival Ruhr.
The Naughtons discography features a wide variety of musical styles. Their first album, released on the German label ORFEO in 2012 and recorded in Bremen’s Sendesaal; focuses heavily on traditional Classic and Romantic selections. It was praised by Der Spiegel Magazine for “stand(ing) out with unique harmony, and sing(ing) out with stylistic confidence, and described by ClassicsToday as a “Dynamic Duo Debut”. In February of 2016 they released their debut record on the Warner Classics label titled “Visions”. “Visions”, comprised of the music of Messiaen, Bach, and Adams; was shortly after its release chosen as “Editor’s Choice” by Gramophone Magazine.
Christina and Michelle have played as soloists with orchestras such as the Philadelphia Orchestra, Atlanta, Baltimore, Detroit, Hawaii, Houston, Milwaukee, Minnesota, Nashville, New Jersey, North Carolina, San Diego, St. Louis, Virginia Symphonies; the Buffalo and Naples Philharmonics, as well as The Mahler Chamber Orchestra, Royal Scottish National Orchestra, St. Petersburg Philharmonic, Royal Flemish Philharmonic (Belgium), l’Orchestre Philharmonique de Strasbourg, the Frankfurter Opern-and Museumsorchester, Hamburg Chorus, Kiel Philharmonic, Norddeutsche Philharmonic Rostock, the Netherlands Philharmonic at the Royal Concertgebouw, The Hong Kong Philharmonic, and New Zealand Symphony. Past and future seasons feature collaborations under the batons of conductors such as Stephane Deneve, Edo deWaart, Charles Dutoit, JoAnn Falletta, Giancarlo Guerrero, Emmanuel Krivine, Cristian Macelaru, Andres Orozco-Estrada, and Leonard Slatkin.
“Joining two hearts and four hands at two grand pianos, the Naughton sisters created an electrifying and moving musical performance.”
— SING TAO DAILY, HONG KONGChristina and Michelle Naughton are avid recitalists, performing for such notable organizations as Lincoln Center’s Great Performers, New York City’s Naumburg Orchestral Concert Series (Naumburg Bandshell at Central Park), Carnegie Weill Hall, Rockefeller Evening Concerts, le Poisson Rouge, Kennedy Center’s Terrace Theater (Washington Performing Arts), the National Gallery, the Smithsonian American Art Museum, St Paul’s Schubert Club, Los Angeles’s Walt Disney Hall, Atlanta’s Spivey Hall, Philharmonic Society of Orange County, Chamber Music San Francisco, Houston’s Cullen Theater, Fort Worth Texas’s Cliburn Series, Cornell Concert Series, Boston’s Gardner Museum, Kansas City’s Harriman Jewell Series, the Kravis Center and the Society of the Four Arts in Palm Beach; and in Europe at Glasgow’s Royal Concert Hall, Amsterdam’s Royal Concertgebouw, Dusseldorf’s Robert Schumann Saal, and Frankfurter Hof.
Frequent guests at festivals around the world, the Naughtons have appeared at American venues such as the La Jolla Music Society, Ravinia Festival, Fortas Chamber Music Festival, Gilmore Festival, Portland Piano International, Grand Tetons Music Festival, and the Virginia Arts Festival. They perform regularly at Germany’s renowned Klavierfestival Ruhr, as well as the Rheingau Musik Festival, Dresden’s Musikfestpiele, Kissinger Sommer, Bremen Music Festival, France’s La Roque d’Antheron Festival (Parc Du Chateau de Florans), Annecy Classic Festival (Bonlieu Scene Nationale) Nohant Festival Chopin, Festival Berlioz La Cote de Saint Andre, Zurich’s Tonhalle, and Prague’s Strings of Autumn Festival.
The Naughtons have undertaken several international tours. Berlin’s Kammermusiksaal, Munich’s Herkulesaal, Dusseldorf’s Tonhalle, Hannover’s Kleiner Sendesaal, Ingoldstadt’s Konzertverein, Reutlingen’s Freidrich-List-Halle, Pullach’s Burgerhaus, Concert Series in Ludwigshafen, and Homburg-Saar Series name some of the venues where their prolific German concertizing has taken place. Recitals throughout China include Beijing’s Forbidden City Concert Hall, Shenzhen Concert Hall, and Wuhan’s Qintai Concert Hall. Highlights of their extensive work in Latin America include Brazil's Orquesta Sinfonica do Estado Sao Paulo; Colombia’s Orquesta Filarmonica de Bogota, Biblioteca de Luis Angel, Medellin’s Teatro Metropolitano; Chile’s Fundacion Beethoven; Mexico City’s Palacio de las Bellas Artes, Puerto Rico’s Orquesta de Sinfonica Pablo Casal’s Festival, Portugal’s Casa da Musica Porto; and Spain’s Conciertos de Valencia, Foundation de Juan March (Madrid), Foundation Botin (Santander), Auditoria Teulada Moraira, and Enclave de Camera (Ourense).
Born in Princeton, New Jersey to parents of European and Chinese descent; Christina and Michelle are graduates of the Juilliard School and the Curtis Institute of Music, where they were each awarded the Festorazzi Prize. They are Steinway Artists and currently reside in New York City.
Christopher & Katherine Fisher
The FISHER PIANO DUO has been delighting audiences throughout the United States with innovative and engaging programming of piano duet and duo literature since 2004. As dedicated educators and proponents of collaborative music making, the duo frequently serves as featured artists and clinicians at university, community music school, and civic events. Passionate educators and scholars, the Fishers are co-authors of the revised and expanded edition of Piano Duet Repertoire (Indiana University Press).
KATHERINE FISHER is co-author of the Piano Safari method (www.pianosafari.com) which is used piano students and teachers around the globe. She serves on the faculty of the Athens Community Music School at Ohio University in Athens, Ohio. Her responsibilities include teaching private piano lessons as well as coordinating the Piano Preparatory Program (group lessons) for children who are beginners at the instrument. Katherine is an active member of the Music Teachers National Association, having most recently served as recording secretary for the OhioMTA. She presently serves in the capacity of Vice- President for Membership for the Southeast District of OhioMTA.
A native of Ohio, Katherine earned degrees from the University of Oklahoma (Master of Music in Piano Performance and Pedagogy) and the Wheaton College Conservatory of Music (Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance). Her former teachers include Jeongwon Ham, Jane Magrath, Barbara Fast, Karin R. Edwards, and Nancy Bachus.
CHRISTOPHER FISHER is Professor of Piano at Ohio University in Athens, Ohio where he co-chairs the Keyboard Division and directs the nationally recognized undergraduate and graduate piano performance and pedagogy programs. He is the Artistic Director of the Ohio University Piano Pedagogy Seminar and is a Faculty Fellow for the 1804 Scholars Program. Dr. Fisher served as Director of the Ohio University School of Music from 2020-2022 and Assistant Director from 2019-2020. Recognized for his teaching, Dr. Fisher was the 2010 recipient of the Ohio Music Teachers Association Collegiate Teacher of the Year Award and the Ohio University School of Music Distinguished Teaching Award.
Dr. Fisher is the author of Teaching Piano in Groups (Oxford University Press, 2010), the only comprehensive group piano pedagogy textbook of its kind. A Chinese translation of Teaching Piano in Groups is also available. Dr. Fisher is the co-author of the revised and expanded edition of Piano Duet Repertoire (Indiana University Press, 2016) and co-author of Functional Skills for Pianists (Oxford University Press, 2022). He is also co-editing the Oxford Handbook for Piano Pedagogy (Oxford University Press) with Dr. Sally Cathcart. He has published in leading keyboard journals including Keyboard Companion, American Music Teacher, Clavier, and Clavier Companion. He is a contributing composer for the innovative piano method, Piano Safari (www.pianosafari.com), which is used by piano teachers and students around the globe. His educational compositions are published by Alfred Music and Piano Safari.
In demand as a workshop clinician, Dr. Fisher has presented lectures nationally and internationally, including the National Conferences of the Music Teachers National Association (Washington, D.C., 2001; Toronto, Ontario, Canada, 2007; Atlanta, 2009; San Antonio, Texas, 2016; Orlando, Florida, 2018), the National Conference on Keyboard Pedagogy (Lombard, Illinois, 2013; 2017; 2019), the Music & Drama Education Expo (London, England, 2018), the National Group Piano and Piano Pedagogy Forum (Norman, Oklahoma, 2006; Austin, Texas, 2010), the Australasian Piano Pedagogy Conference (Canberra, Australia, 2008), Encontro Internacional de Pianistas de Piracicaba (Piracicaba, Sao Paulo, Brazil, 2016), The Curious Piano Teachers Live Conferences (Belfast, Northern Ireland, 2018 and Oxford, England, 2018) and the American Music Therapy Association (Orlando, Florida, 2005). He has served as a guest lecturer at leading universities and conservatories across the U.S. including recent engagements at The Juilliard School in New York (USA), the Tianjin Juilliard School (China), and the University of Oxford (UK).
As a performing artist, Dr. Fisher frequently plays both solo and collaborative recitals, including duet and duo piano performances with wife, pianist Katherine Fisher. The Fisher Piano Duo was awarded first prize in the Adult Duo Division of the Graves Piano and Organ Company/OhioMTA Piano Competition in 2007. As a recording artist, Dr. Fisher can be heard on the MSR Classics label (Samplings: New Music for Bassoon and Piano; MS1547).
Dr. Fisher is an active member of Music Teachers National Association and has served as Vice-President for Conferences and Vice-President for Membership for the Ohio Music Teachers Association; he presently serves as Collegiate Chapter Chair. He is the faculty advisor for the Ohio University Collegiate Chapter of MTNA, recipient of the 2021, 2019, and 2015 MTNA Collegiate Chapter Award. Dr. Fisher maintains a studio of pre-college students who have been successful at state and regional piano competitions and festivals. He frequently serves as an adjudicator and master class clinician at piano festivals and competitions throughout the United States and abroad, including the MTNA Stecher & Horowitz Two Piano Competition, the OHIO International Piano Duet & Duo Competition, and the United States Virtuoso Artists International Piano Competition.
A native of Missouri, Dr. Fisher holds degrees from Wichita State University (Master of Music in Piano Pedagogy) and Northwest Missouri State University (Bachelor of Arts). He was awarded the Doctor of Musical Arts in Piano Performance and Pedagogy from the University of Oklahoma where he was the recipient of the prestigious Alumni Graduate Fellowship. His piano and piano pedagogy teachers include Edward Gates, Jane Magrath, Barbara Fast, Julie Bees, Sylvia Coats, Richard Bobo, and Betty Preston.
Dr. Fisher resides in Albany, Ohio with his wife Katherine and their children Isaiah and Anna.
Christopher Fisher is a Yamaha Artist.
www.chrisfisherpiano.com
Visit http://www.chrisfisherpiano.com/fisher-piano-duo.html for more information.
KATHERINE FISHER is co-author of the Piano Safari method (www.pianosafari.com) which is used piano students and teachers around the globe. She serves on the faculty of the Athens Community Music School at Ohio University in Athens, Ohio. Her responsibilities include teaching private piano lessons as well as coordinating the Piano Preparatory Program (group lessons) for children who are beginners at the instrument. Katherine is an active member of the Music Teachers National Association, having most recently served as recording secretary for the OhioMTA. She presently serves in the capacity of Vice- President for Membership for the Southeast District of OhioMTA.
A native of Ohio, Katherine earned degrees from the University of Oklahoma (Master of Music in Piano Performance and Pedagogy) and the Wheaton College Conservatory of Music (Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance). Her former teachers include Jeongwon Ham, Jane Magrath, Barbara Fast, Karin R. Edwards, and Nancy Bachus.
CHRISTOPHER FISHER is Professor of Piano at Ohio University in Athens, Ohio where he co-chairs the Keyboard Division and directs the nationally recognized undergraduate and graduate piano performance and pedagogy programs. He is the Artistic Director of the Ohio University Piano Pedagogy Seminar and is a Faculty Fellow for the 1804 Scholars Program. Dr. Fisher served as Director of the Ohio University School of Music from 2020-2022 and Assistant Director from 2019-2020. Recognized for his teaching, Dr. Fisher was the 2010 recipient of the Ohio Music Teachers Association Collegiate Teacher of the Year Award and the Ohio University School of Music Distinguished Teaching Award.
Dr. Fisher is the author of Teaching Piano in Groups (Oxford University Press, 2010), the only comprehensive group piano pedagogy textbook of its kind. A Chinese translation of Teaching Piano in Groups is also available. Dr. Fisher is the co-author of the revised and expanded edition of Piano Duet Repertoire (Indiana University Press, 2016) and co-author of Functional Skills for Pianists (Oxford University Press, 2022). He is also co-editing the Oxford Handbook for Piano Pedagogy (Oxford University Press) with Dr. Sally Cathcart. He has published in leading keyboard journals including Keyboard Companion, American Music Teacher, Clavier, and Clavier Companion. He is a contributing composer for the innovative piano method, Piano Safari (www.pianosafari.com), which is used by piano teachers and students around the globe. His educational compositions are published by Alfred Music and Piano Safari.
In demand as a workshop clinician, Dr. Fisher has presented lectures nationally and internationally, including the National Conferences of the Music Teachers National Association (Washington, D.C., 2001; Toronto, Ontario, Canada, 2007; Atlanta, 2009; San Antonio, Texas, 2016; Orlando, Florida, 2018), the National Conference on Keyboard Pedagogy (Lombard, Illinois, 2013; 2017; 2019), the Music & Drama Education Expo (London, England, 2018), the National Group Piano and Piano Pedagogy Forum (Norman, Oklahoma, 2006; Austin, Texas, 2010), the Australasian Piano Pedagogy Conference (Canberra, Australia, 2008), Encontro Internacional de Pianistas de Piracicaba (Piracicaba, Sao Paulo, Brazil, 2016), The Curious Piano Teachers Live Conferences (Belfast, Northern Ireland, 2018 and Oxford, England, 2018) and the American Music Therapy Association (Orlando, Florida, 2005). He has served as a guest lecturer at leading universities and conservatories across the U.S. including recent engagements at The Juilliard School in New York (USA), the Tianjin Juilliard School (China), and the University of Oxford (UK).
As a performing artist, Dr. Fisher frequently plays both solo and collaborative recitals, including duet and duo piano performances with wife, pianist Katherine Fisher. The Fisher Piano Duo was awarded first prize in the Adult Duo Division of the Graves Piano and Organ Company/OhioMTA Piano Competition in 2007. As a recording artist, Dr. Fisher can be heard on the MSR Classics label (Samplings: New Music for Bassoon and Piano; MS1547).
Dr. Fisher is an active member of Music Teachers National Association and has served as Vice-President for Conferences and Vice-President for Membership for the Ohio Music Teachers Association; he presently serves as Collegiate Chapter Chair. He is the faculty advisor for the Ohio University Collegiate Chapter of MTNA, recipient of the 2021, 2019, and 2015 MTNA Collegiate Chapter Award. Dr. Fisher maintains a studio of pre-college students who have been successful at state and regional piano competitions and festivals. He frequently serves as an adjudicator and master class clinician at piano festivals and competitions throughout the United States and abroad, including the MTNA Stecher & Horowitz Two Piano Competition, the OHIO International Piano Duet & Duo Competition, and the United States Virtuoso Artists International Piano Competition.
A native of Missouri, Dr. Fisher holds degrees from Wichita State University (Master of Music in Piano Pedagogy) and Northwest Missouri State University (Bachelor of Arts). He was awarded the Doctor of Musical Arts in Piano Performance and Pedagogy from the University of Oklahoma where he was the recipient of the prestigious Alumni Graduate Fellowship. His piano and piano pedagogy teachers include Edward Gates, Jane Magrath, Barbara Fast, Julie Bees, Sylvia Coats, Richard Bobo, and Betty Preston.
Dr. Fisher resides in Albany, Ohio with his wife Katherine and their children Isaiah and Anna.
Christopher Fisher is a Yamaha Artist.
www.chrisfisherpiano.com
Visit http://www.chrisfisherpiano.com/fisher-piano-duo.html for more information.
Emely Phelps
Praised by the Boston Globe for her “fleet, energetic, and bright-toned” playing, pianist EMELY PHELPS enjoys a flexible and multifaceted career as a soloist, chamber musician, and teacher. A finalist for the 2019 Pro Musicis International Award, Emely has given nearly 40 performances over the past two years, including recitals in Ohio, Washington, Iowa, and North Carolina. Highlights of her 2021-2022 concert season included performances of Brahms’s Second Piano Concerto with the Bismarck-Mandan Symphony Orchestra and Ohio University Symphony Orchestra, solo performances at Denison University and Bucknell University, and duo recitals with pianist Oksana Ezhokina, violinist Christine Harada Li, and flutist Hannah Porter Occeña.
Emely made her solo orchestral debut at the age of 16 with the National Symphony Orchestra, and has since been a featured concerto soloist with orchestras such as the Las Colinas Symphony Orchestra and the Washington Metropolitan Philharmonic. She has presented solo recitals throughout North America and Europe with a diverse repertoire ranging from Bach to Carter, and is a particularly passionate advocate for new music, having given world premieres of more than a dozen compositions and worked closely with Jörg Widmann, Shulamit Ran, Lei Liang, Robert McClure, and Richard Wernick in performances of their works.
As a founding member of Trio Cleonice, Emely spent eight years with the ensemble, performing across the United States, touring Europe - including a recital at the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam - and winning second prize at the Schoenfeld International String Competition in Harbin, China. The group also served as the Graduate Piano Trio-in-Residence at New England Conservatory for three years, and from 2014-2016 curated a monthly chamber music series, Trio Cleonice and Friends, in Brookline, Massachusetts, with the aim of making chamber music an accessible and integral part of the community.
An in-demand collaborator, Emely performs regularly at the Icicle Creek Chamber Music Festival and with Electric Earth Concerts, and has attended numerous other chamber music festivals, including five summers at Yellow Barn and three summers at Kneisel Hall. She has performed as a guest artist with the Borromeo String Quartet, and appears on flutist Hannah Porter Occeña’s recently released CD, Confluence. Emely is in the process of recording a second album with Hannah, as well as a CD for the Delos label with violinist Dawn Wohn, featuring violin and piano works by Amy Beach, Vivian Fung, and Irene Britton Smith.
Emely is currently Artist-Teacher of Piano at Ohio University, where she co-chairs the keyboard division, teaches applied piano, chamber music, and keyboard repertoire, and also directs the graduate collaborative piano degree program. Prior to her appointment at OU, she was the head piano TA at Stony Brook University, teaching for and managing their undergraduate piano program. Emely has given master classes at numerous universities, and will be a featured presenter at Ohio University’s Piano Pedagogy Seminar in June 2022, speaking about implicit grammar and instinctive musicality.
A native of Frederick, Maryland, Emely began her piano studies with Carole Kriewaldt and Marjorie Lee before receiving her B.M. and M.M. from the Juilliard School as a student of Julian Martin. She also studied with Vivian Weilerstein during Trio Cleonice’s tenure at NEC, earning a Graduate Diploma in chamber music, and most recently was awarded a Doctorate of Musical Arts from Stony Brook University under the guidance of Christina Dahl.
Emely made her solo orchestral debut at the age of 16 with the National Symphony Orchestra, and has since been a featured concerto soloist with orchestras such as the Las Colinas Symphony Orchestra and the Washington Metropolitan Philharmonic. She has presented solo recitals throughout North America and Europe with a diverse repertoire ranging from Bach to Carter, and is a particularly passionate advocate for new music, having given world premieres of more than a dozen compositions and worked closely with Jörg Widmann, Shulamit Ran, Lei Liang, Robert McClure, and Richard Wernick in performances of their works.
As a founding member of Trio Cleonice, Emely spent eight years with the ensemble, performing across the United States, touring Europe - including a recital at the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam - and winning second prize at the Schoenfeld International String Competition in Harbin, China. The group also served as the Graduate Piano Trio-in-Residence at New England Conservatory for three years, and from 2014-2016 curated a monthly chamber music series, Trio Cleonice and Friends, in Brookline, Massachusetts, with the aim of making chamber music an accessible and integral part of the community.
An in-demand collaborator, Emely performs regularly at the Icicle Creek Chamber Music Festival and with Electric Earth Concerts, and has attended numerous other chamber music festivals, including five summers at Yellow Barn and three summers at Kneisel Hall. She has performed as a guest artist with the Borromeo String Quartet, and appears on flutist Hannah Porter Occeña’s recently released CD, Confluence. Emely is in the process of recording a second album with Hannah, as well as a CD for the Delos label with violinist Dawn Wohn, featuring violin and piano works by Amy Beach, Vivian Fung, and Irene Britton Smith.
Emely is currently Artist-Teacher of Piano at Ohio University, where she co-chairs the keyboard division, teaches applied piano, chamber music, and keyboard repertoire, and also directs the graduate collaborative piano degree program. Prior to her appointment at OU, she was the head piano TA at Stony Brook University, teaching for and managing their undergraduate piano program. Emely has given master classes at numerous universities, and will be a featured presenter at Ohio University’s Piano Pedagogy Seminar in June 2022, speaking about implicit grammar and instinctive musicality.
A native of Frederick, Maryland, Emely began her piano studies with Carole Kriewaldt and Marjorie Lee before receiving her B.M. and M.M. from the Juilliard School as a student of Julian Martin. She also studied with Vivian Weilerstein during Trio Cleonice’s tenure at NEC, earning a Graduate Diploma in chamber music, and most recently was awarded a Doctorate of Musical Arts from Stony Brook University under the guidance of Christina Dahl.
Jiao Sun
Silver medal winner at the 2021 Washington International Piano Competition, Jiao Sun was born in Harbin, China and grew up in Beijing, where she was admitted to the Central Conservatory of Music at age nine as the first prize winner. She debuted with orchestra at age eleven. By age twelve, she gave her recital debut and won the prestigious Chinese “Chengxian Fu” national scholarship. Same year, she became a semifinalist at the Tchaikovsky International Piano Competition for Young Musicians after won 1st place at the Chinese “Golden Bell” National Piano Competition for Young Musicians and 2nd prize at the Russian “A Step Towards Mastery” International Piano Competition. Sun has also won 1st prize at the 2019 Memphis Repertory Orchestra International Concerto Competition, 1st and 2nd prizes at the Chautauqua Piano Competitions, 1st prize at the CCM (College-Conservatory of Music, University of Cincinnati) Concerto Competition, 3rd prize at the Ohio “Tuesday” Musical Scholarship Piano Competition, and 3rd prize at the Beijing “Rising Star” Piano Competition.
Sun has performed in Britain, Russia, Hong Kong, and extensively in the United States and mainland China. She has soloed with the Memphis Repertory Orchestra, the Saint Petersburg Academic Philharmonia Orchestra, and the CCM Philharmonia Orchestra. She has attended Bowdoin International Music Festival, PianoFest in the Hamptons, Aspen Music Festival, and two Chautauqua Music Festivals. Sun’s recital was aired on Cincinnati Public Radio WGUC 90.9, and she has been the artist in residence at the Cincinnati Music and Arts Society since 2019. She has been invited to perform as a solo guest artist at many music series and schools in the U.S and mainland China. She was selected to perform at many masterclasses with world-renowned pianists and was a recipient for numerous scholarships. In her 2021-22 season, she has given recital at University of Chicago and has performed at two CCM Concerts featuring worldwide famous Zemlinsky prize winning contemporary composers. Some of the recent highlights of her 2022-23 season, she has given recital debuts at faculty series at Ohio University (OU) in Athens, OH and at the “Rising Stars Piano Series” at New York Southampton Culture Center, served on jury for the 2023 Hong Kong International Global Music Talent Contest before joining the jury at the Ohio International Piano Duet and Duo Competition this March; she will perform at solo recitals at Steinway gallery for Washington International Competition concert and at the prestigious Dame Myra Hess memorial concert in Chicago this April; she has become appointed editor-in-chief for New York based English and Chinese bilingual music magazine “ALONG 同行”.
An active and diversified chamber musician, Sun’s “SunRix Trio” was among the six piano trios advanced at the 2019 Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition Senior Division after won 1st place at the Hong Kong International Chamber Music Competition and 2nd prize at the CCM Chamber Music Competition. She has performed at chamber concerts extensively, including at the “La Salle” music series, two Eastman Honors recitals, numerous music series and schools in the U.S. She has attended the Cincinnati Chamber Music Festival as a fellowship artist and has been selected as a fellow for the Toronto Chamber Music Festival. She has served as collaborative pianist at Eastman Community Music School and CCM Preparatory Department and was a keyboardist at Chautauqua Music School Festival Orchestra. Sun has performed substantially and individually with a wide variety of instruments including strings, woodwinds, brass, percussion, keyboard; with singers of classical voice and musical theatre, and Eastman Chamber Singers choir; and with various dancers.
Sun has served as the Head of Graduate Teaching Assistants in the Secondary Piano Department at CCM where she won the Graduate Excellence in Teaching Award and the renowned Dorothy Payne Scholarship. She has also served as Co-President at the Music Teacher National Association (MTNA) CCM chapter and as the liaison between the Cincinnati Keyboard Club and CCM. Sun has taught applied lessons and group classes for the Secondary Piano Departments at CCM and Eastman School of Music for seven years in total. She has presented twice at the National Conference on Keyboard Pedagogy (NCKP) and the MTNA Collegiate Chapters Piano Pedagogy Symposium. She has won 3rd prize for the poster session at the OhioMTA conference and has been published in the MTNA E-Journal as an invited reporter at the National Group Piano and Piano Pedagogy Forum (GP3).
Sun has been serving as piano faculty and collaborative artist in residence at OU School of Music since 2021. She is currently towards the end of achieving a Doctoral of Musical Arts degree in piano performance with Soyeon Kate Lee at CCM where she earned an Artist Diploma in piano performance; she has also earned a minor in piano pedagogy with Michelle Conda. Sun has received a Master of Music degree in piano performance and literature with Douglas Humpherys and a Bachelor of Music degree in piano performance with Rebecca Penneys at the Eastman School of Music. Her other mentors include Hwaen Ch’uqi, James Tocco, Paul Schenly, Ann Schein, Bernadene Blaha, Elinor Freer, Sylvie Beaudette, members of Ariel Quartet and Ying Quartet.
Sun has performed in Britain, Russia, Hong Kong, and extensively in the United States and mainland China. She has soloed with the Memphis Repertory Orchestra, the Saint Petersburg Academic Philharmonia Orchestra, and the CCM Philharmonia Orchestra. She has attended Bowdoin International Music Festival, PianoFest in the Hamptons, Aspen Music Festival, and two Chautauqua Music Festivals. Sun’s recital was aired on Cincinnati Public Radio WGUC 90.9, and she has been the artist in residence at the Cincinnati Music and Arts Society since 2019. She has been invited to perform as a solo guest artist at many music series and schools in the U.S and mainland China. She was selected to perform at many masterclasses with world-renowned pianists and was a recipient for numerous scholarships. In her 2021-22 season, she has given recital at University of Chicago and has performed at two CCM Concerts featuring worldwide famous Zemlinsky prize winning contemporary composers. Some of the recent highlights of her 2022-23 season, she has given recital debuts at faculty series at Ohio University (OU) in Athens, OH and at the “Rising Stars Piano Series” at New York Southampton Culture Center, served on jury for the 2023 Hong Kong International Global Music Talent Contest before joining the jury at the Ohio International Piano Duet and Duo Competition this March; she will perform at solo recitals at Steinway gallery for Washington International Competition concert and at the prestigious Dame Myra Hess memorial concert in Chicago this April; she has become appointed editor-in-chief for New York based English and Chinese bilingual music magazine “ALONG 同行”.
An active and diversified chamber musician, Sun’s “SunRix Trio” was among the six piano trios advanced at the 2019 Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition Senior Division after won 1st place at the Hong Kong International Chamber Music Competition and 2nd prize at the CCM Chamber Music Competition. She has performed at chamber concerts extensively, including at the “La Salle” music series, two Eastman Honors recitals, numerous music series and schools in the U.S. She has attended the Cincinnati Chamber Music Festival as a fellowship artist and has been selected as a fellow for the Toronto Chamber Music Festival. She has served as collaborative pianist at Eastman Community Music School and CCM Preparatory Department and was a keyboardist at Chautauqua Music School Festival Orchestra. Sun has performed substantially and individually with a wide variety of instruments including strings, woodwinds, brass, percussion, keyboard; with singers of classical voice and musical theatre, and Eastman Chamber Singers choir; and with various dancers.
Sun has served as the Head of Graduate Teaching Assistants in the Secondary Piano Department at CCM where she won the Graduate Excellence in Teaching Award and the renowned Dorothy Payne Scholarship. She has also served as Co-President at the Music Teacher National Association (MTNA) CCM chapter and as the liaison between the Cincinnati Keyboard Club and CCM. Sun has taught applied lessons and group classes for the Secondary Piano Departments at CCM and Eastman School of Music for seven years in total. She has presented twice at the National Conference on Keyboard Pedagogy (NCKP) and the MTNA Collegiate Chapters Piano Pedagogy Symposium. She has won 3rd prize for the poster session at the OhioMTA conference and has been published in the MTNA E-Journal as an invited reporter at the National Group Piano and Piano Pedagogy Forum (GP3).
Sun has been serving as piano faculty and collaborative artist in residence at OU School of Music since 2021. She is currently towards the end of achieving a Doctoral of Musical Arts degree in piano performance with Soyeon Kate Lee at CCM where she earned an Artist Diploma in piano performance; she has also earned a minor in piano pedagogy with Michelle Conda. Sun has received a Master of Music degree in piano performance and literature with Douglas Humpherys and a Bachelor of Music degree in piano performance with Rebecca Penneys at the Eastman School of Music. Her other mentors include Hwaen Ch’uqi, James Tocco, Paul Schenly, Ann Schein, Bernadene Blaha, Elinor Freer, Sylvie Beaudette, members of Ariel Quartet and Ying Quartet.
