Pianist, Yalan Piao started her formal music training at 13 at one of the best music high schools in China, Music Middle School Affiliated to Shanghai Conservatory. She continued her study at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music and received her Bachelor's Degree in Piano Performance with Wei Zhou. After, she moved to the United States in pursuit of her higher education at Michigan State University. She gained a Master of Music with Pianist Minsoo Sohn and Doctor of Musical Arts under the tutelage of Deborah Moriarty as Graduate Assistant.

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As an active recitalist, chamber musician and collaborative pianist, Dr. Piao has been invited to compete and perform in numerous music programs and festivals, such as Wideman International Piano Competition, William C. Byrd Young Artist Competition, and she won 2nd prize in the Marquette Symphony Orchestra Young Artist Concerto Competition. Dr. Piao also attended many music festivals including Gilmore Keyboard Festival in Kalamazoo, Michigan, “BIMFA on the Road” International Music Festival at Shanghai, China, Walnut Hill Music Festival in Natick, Massachusetts and CollabFest at University of North Texas. Dr. Piao was also invited as part of Andante Duo touring through China, hailed as “the most exciting and splendid concert” by Jiangnan City Daily.

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Dr. Piao has served at the Interlochen Arts Camp as a staff pianist for the Dance department. She has served as Mentor at a festival for the pre-College students on the Autism Spectrum, Celebrating the Spectrum at Michigan State University in 2019. As a teacher, Dr. Piao is committed to helping every student achieve success. Her students regularly compete in American Guild of Music at Michigan and have received awards and recognition in Students Achievement Test of MMTA.