About Dr. Zhao Zhao Yang
D.M.A. – Michigan State University
Masters – Sydney Conservatory of Music
Master Faculty at Pacific Piano School since 2014
Dr. Zhao Zhao Yang was born in Beijing and began learning the piano at the age of four. In 1991, her family migrated to Sydney, Australia, and she had her first performance at the Sydney Opera House in the Suzuki Graduation concert at the age of nine. She received a full music scholarship to attend St. Catherine’s School and won several prizes in competitions in and around Sydney.
Zhao Zhao received the Richard Munz prize for her double bachelor degree in Music and Education at the University of New South Wales and graduated with honors in 2005. She was also one of the four finalists in the Sony Foundation Music Scholarship program. In 2008, Zhao Zhao graduated with Master of Music Studies in performance at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. She performed in ensembles including the Modern Music Ensemble at the Aurora Festival, which was broadcasted on ABC Classic FM, and featured in the Sounds Sensational chamber concert series. She participated in numerous master classes including with Christina Ortiz at the Conservatorium. Zhao Zhao studied piano with Nada Brissenden, Julie Adam and Stephanie McCallum in Sydney.
Zhao Zhao received a Doctor of Musical Arts from Michigan State University in 2012 where she studied with George Vatchnadze and Minsoo Sohn. Her DMA paper focuses on the Symphonie for solo piano by the French Romantic composer Charles-Valentin Alkan. She also performed in concerts as part of the Chopin Bicentennial Celebrations in 2010, in which she played alongside studio colleagues, Professor Vatchnadze, and Professor Alexander Korsantia of New England Conservatory. Zhao Zhao competed in the International Franz Liszt Piano Competition in 2010 and competed with her ensemble Trio Arvo in several national competitions in the US in 2011, including the MTNA chamber section, in which they received the runners up place. In June 2011, Zhao Zhao gave a solo recital as part of the “Piano at Ten” series in Bundanoon, Australia, and in December 2011, she collaborated with a colleague to give a recital at the Flint Institute of Music in Michigan. In 2012, Zhao Zhao collaborated with a MSU colleague to give a cello and piano recital at Weill Hall, Carnegie Hall.
Prior to her appointment at the Pacific Piano School, Zhao Zhao was a music instructor and piano accompanist at Spokane Falls Community College, Washington. She gave numerous recitals whilst residing in Washington including at the Steinway Recital Hall.
