Hong Yao

Hong Yao is a pianist and educator who strives to present performances that can show the joy of music and inspire other artists. Born in Guangzhou, Hong Yao is currently pursuing a MM in Piano Performance at Indiana University Jacob School of Music. Hong studied with Alvin Chow at Oberlin Conservatory of Music, earning her BM supported by Conservatory Dean Scholarship. She currently studies with Emile Naoumoff at Indiana University Jacob School of Music, where she will complete her MM in Piano Performance in Fall 2022. Awards from the Jacob School in support of her degree include the Artist Excellence Award and Graduate Tuition. As a performer, Hong has diverse performance experiences include solo recitals, ChamberFest Recitals at Oberlin, Chamber Music Recitals at Jacob School of Music. Besides that, she has a number of collaborative works with other instrumentalists such as violinists, cellists, and trumpetists. In 2016, Hong performed in her high school (pre-school of Xinghai Conservatory of Music) graduation ceremony as a representative pianist. Her awards as a soloist include Third and Second prizes in the Guangzhou Piano Competition for three years and Third Prizes in Asia Youth Piano Festival for two years.

In addition to being a performer, Hong also explores her ability in teaching. She was the secondary piano teacher for two years at Oberlin Conservatory of Music, where she taught kids and non-musical major college students. In her hometown China, Hong is a freelance teacher of piano in a number of piano institutions. In the institutions, she works as a piano tutor to teach 5-18 years old young pianists piano and music theory. Besides building their interests in music, Hong also helps them pass the ABRSM exam. In the future, Hong hopes to explore her career in both the performing and educational areas by demonstrating her own style and fresh ideas.

Since I started to learn the piano at 6, I know exactly how many challenges a young beginner has in practicing the piano. In my lesson, I will provide practicing strategies and lesson goals to students and make sure they can experience enjoyment from practicing. I also like to set individual plans for every student because I think every student is unique. At the same time, I would encourage my students to develop listening skills and self-assessment abilities. Therefore, I will also introduce music literature in my lesson to create a more "real" environment for students to study.