Critically acclaimed as “the most gifted young pianist of her generation” with a “million-volt stage presence,” pianist Joyce Yang captivates audiences around the globe with her stunning virtuosity combined with heartfelt lyricism and interpretive sensitivity. At only twenty-three, she has established herself as one of the leading artists of her generation through her innovative solo recitals and notable collaborations with the world’s most prestigious orchestras.
In June 2005, Ms. Yang came to international attention when she became the Silver Medalist of the 12th Van Cliburn International Competition. As the youngest contestant, Ms. Yang swept two additional awards as an all-around winner, receiving the Steven De Groote Memorial Award for the Best Performance of Chamber Music with the Takacs Quartet, and the Beverley Taylor Smith Award for the Best Performance of a New Work.
Since her spectacular finish, Ms. Yang has flourished into an “astonishing artist” (Neue Zurcher Zeitung), giving ground-breaking debuts all across the world. In just a few short years, Ms. Yang has become household name in various high-profile venues, such as Lincoln Center and the Kennedy Center. In November of 2006, Ms. Yang made her celebrated New York Philharmonic debut with Lorin Maazel at Avery Fisher Hall and performed on their Asian tour, making a triumphant return to her hometown in South Korea. Since then, she has appeared with them year after year, performing in Bravo! Vail Music Festival and returning to Avery Fisher Hall in September of 2008 for the opening night of the Leonard Bernstein Festival at the special request of Lorin Maazel in his final season as Music Director. The New York Times called Yang’s rendition of Bernstein’s Age of Anxiety, a “knock-out.”
Ms. Yang has been continually engaged by orchestras across the U.S. and abroad and has performed with the Chicago Symphony, National Symphony, Philadelphia Orchestra, Baltimore Symphony, BBC Philharmonic, Colorado Symphony, Houston Symphony, National Orchestra of Brazil, and Hong Kong Philharmonic, working with renowned conductors such as Edo de Waart, Lorin Maazel, James Conlon, Leonard Slatkin, David Robertson, Bramwell Tovey, Eri Klas, Nicolai Alexeev, and Gianandrea Noseda. In March 2008, Ms. Yang completed her first extensive US tour with the award-winning Estonian Symphony Orchestra, playing 18 concerts from coast to coast. As a frequent recitalist, Ms. Yang has appeared in Chicago Symphony Hall, the Kennedy Center in Washington DC, Tonhalle in Zurich, and the Metropolitan Museum in New York City.
Ms. Yang continues to captivate audiences and colleagues with her warm and generous personality. Her ability to create an intimate rapport with her fellow musicians and audiences while encompassing the highest musicianship has made her a frequent invitee in many music festivals. As an avid chamber musician, Ms. Yang has performed on many occasions with the world-renowned Takacs String Quartet and is a recurring guest at the Aspen Music Festival, La Jolla SummerFest, and the Bridgehampton Chamber Music Festival.
In the summer of 2009, Ms. Yang appears with the Chicago Symphony in Ravinia, the Aspen Festival Orchestra at the Aspen Summer Music Festival, the Dallas Symphony at the Meyerson Symphony Center, the Rochester Philharmonic, and performs a recital in Lake Tahoe, California. Ms. Yang collaborates with the Jupiter Quartet at the Aspen Summer Music Festival, the Pacifica Quartet at the Caramoor Festival, and participates in various projects in La Jolla SummerFest, including collaboration with Stewart Copeland, from the Police.
In the 2009-2010 season, Ms. Yang performs with the Los Angeles Philharmonic at the Hollywood Bowl, Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, The Hague Symphony Orchestra in The Netherlands, the Lexington and Naples Philharmonics, and the Sarasota, Milwaukee, New Mexico, Syracuse, Signature, Tucson, Duluth-Superior, Elgin and Louisville Symphonies. In addition, Ms. Yang debuts in Budapest, Hungary, playing in the historic Bela Bartok Concert Hall with the Danubia Symphony. Ms. Yang also gives recitals in Minneapolis, Tucson, Rockville, Wilton, and Sun City, Arizona and continues her collaboration with the Takacs Quartet.
Born in Seoul, Korea, Ms. Yang received her first piano lesson at age four from her aunt. She quickly took to the instrument, which she received as a birthday present. Over the next few years, she won several national piano competitions in Korea. By age ten, she had entered the School of Music at the Korea National University of Arts, and subsequently made a number of concerto and recital appearances in Seoul and Daejon. In 1997, Ms. Yang moved to the United States to begin studies at the Pre-College division of the Juilliard School in New York with Dr. Yoheved Kaplinsky. During her first year at Juilliard, she won its Pre-College Division Concerto Competition, resulting in a performance of the Haydn Concerto in D major with the Juilliard Pre-College Chamber Orchestra.
In April 1999, she was invited to perform at a benefit concert with the Juilliard Orchestra, conducted by Leonard Slatkin. Winning the Philadelphia Orchestra's Greenfield Competition led to a performance of the Prokofiev Piano Concerto No. 3 with the Philadelphia Orchestra when she was just twelve.
Joyce Yang is featured in In the Heart of Music, the film documentary about the 2005 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition. Her debut disc, distributed by harmonia mundi usa, includes live performances of works by Bach, Liszt, Scarlatti, and the Australian composer Carl Vine. Since August 2008, Joyce Yang is a Steinway Artist. She currently resides in New York City where she continues her studies with Dr. Yoheved Kaplinsky at the Juilliard School.
For concert inquiries and information about Ms. Yang’s future engagements, please visit www.pianistjoyceyang.com
