Kyung-a Yoo, Piano

Hailed for “her expressive and sensitive sound,” pianist Kyung-A Yoo currently serves as a collaborative pianist at Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music. Working closely with such renowned musicians and pedagogues as Leone Buyse, Paul Kantor, Richie Hawley, and Stephen King, Ms. Yoo plays for numerous master classes and recitals every year. Recently, she has collaborated with distinguished artists such as Jean Ferrandis, Sergio Pallottelli, Barbara Butler, She-e Wu, and Richie Hawley. Ms. Yoo was featured on The Front Row, hosted by KUHF Houston Public Radio, performing with Leone Buyse, Jean Ferrandis, and Sergio Pallottelli.

Her professional career started at The Manhattan School of Music where she received her Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Accompanying under the tutelage of Heasook Rhee and worked as a staff pianist and vocal coach. As a collaborative pianist, she frequently performed with new music ensemble The New York Composers Circle, the Joy in Singing Art Song Competition, New Triad for Collaborative Arts, and the Korea Music Foundation, presenting debut recitals and annual concerts at Carnegie and Merkin Halls. Additionally, she has been featured in Classical Singer magazine and her performances have been broadcast by WQXR radio station in New York City.

Equally at home in both instrumental and vocal repertoire, she appeared in the world premiere performance of American composer Tom Cipullo’s song cycle, “A Visit with Emily,” and was re-invited to perform it the following year. In addition, she was one of five pianists selected to participate in the prestigious vocal festival, Art Song Festival at Baldwin-Wallace College, where she worked with the renowned collaborative pianist, Warren Jones. A strong supporter of new music, she has premiered numerous works for piano and varied chamber music ensembles including “Requiem for the Living” by Elliot Levine and “Óyeme con los ojos” by Allison Sniffin. Eugene McBride, a composer in residence with the New York Composers Circle, has written piano solo and chamber music works for Ms. Yoo. The recordings are available on Mr. McBride’s website, http://eugenemcbride.com.

Ms. Yoo has served as a staff accompanist at Summit Music Festival and Quartet Program and was invited to the Music Academy of the West at Santa Barbara as a full-scholarship pianist.  During her two summers there, she worked intensely with Anne Epperson and Jonathan Feldman. After serving as a visiting Assistant Professor of Collaborative Piano at the Jacobs School of Music of Indiana University, Ms. Yoo continued her work as a collaborative pianist at Oberlin Conservatory. She also worked as a faculty member of the Heifetz International Music Institute for 5 years and joined Aspen Music Festival and School in 2014 as a staff pianist.