the pianist,
Born in China and based in the New York City area, Jixue Yang is a pianist, educator, and producer specializing in classical and contemporary classical music. Praised for her collaborative artistry and adventurous programming, she is dedicated to expanding the expressive possibilities of the piano through new music, interdisciplinary performance, and creative partnerships. As the first Chinese citizen admitted to the Contemporary Performance Program at Manhattan School of Music, she has built an international career championing experimental repertoire and fostering dialogue between Eastern and Western artistic traditions.
Jixue’s work has been recognized through the Solomon Mikowsky Contemporary Piano Music Award, Foundation for Contemporary Arts Grant, Chamber Music America Ensemble Forward Awards, Houston Arts Alliance’s Let Creativity Happen Grant, and selection as a New Music USA Creator Fund Finalist. She was awarded the Gold Prize at the Singapore International Music Competition and named Pianist of the Season at the Ad Libitum Piano Competition for her performances of twentieth- and twenty-first-century repertoire.
An active performer, Jixue has appeared throughout the United States, China, Germany, and the Netherlands, and has participated in artist residencies including ISU Contemporary Music Festival, Cortona Sessions for New Music, Avaloch Farm Music Institute, Nief-Norf Summer Festival, and Sinuston. She has premiered numerous solo and chamber works, frequently incorporating electronics, extended techniques, and multimedia elements into her performances.
Jixue is the pianist and founding member of Apply Triangle, an electroacoustic ensemble dedicated to collaborative creation and the development of new works. Supported by Chamber Music America Ensemble Forward Awards, the ensemble released the three-volume album Oxalis Triangularis, featuring thirty-three commissioned electroacoustic compositions. As both producer and performer, she created imUnsure, an interdisciplinary project featuring six newly commissioned works by East Asian women composers. The project was presented in New York, Houston, and Indiana and received support from Houston Arts Alliance, Indiana State University Contemporary Music Festival, and THE BLANC Gallery.
Projects and performances featuring Yang have been covered by The New York Times, I Care If You Listen, ARTnews, Vulture, Neon Music, and Manhattan School of Music. Through performances, commissions, and interdisciplinary collaborations, Jixue continues to advocate for contemporary music while exploring new possibilities for artistic expression.
and, the educator
Jixue Yang is committed to fostering curiosity, creativity, and artistic independence in students of all ages and backgrounds. Her teaching combines rigorous technical training with imaginative exploration, encouraging students to develop both strong musicianship and a personal artistic voice. She believes that music education should be accessible, engaging, and responsive to each student’s individual goals and learning style.
Jixue has taught in a wide range of educational settings, including universities, conservatories, public and charter schools, community programs, and private studios. Her teaching experience includes appointments at Manhattan School of Music, Columbia University, Opus One Music School, Silver Music, Luzerne Music Center and the Misty Copeland Foundation’s Be Bold Program. In addition to private instruction, she has taught group piano courses, led masterclasses, presented workshops, and served as a teaching assistant in collegiate settings.
Beyond traditional piano instruction, Jixue frequently introduces students to contemporary repertoire, creative listening, improvisation, composition, and collaborative music-making. She is particularly passionate about helping students build confidence, develop critical listening skills, and engage thoughtfully with both classical and contemporary musical traditions.
An active advocate for new music education, Jixue has presented lectures and workshops at institutions including Bowling Green State University, the University of Pennsylvania, and Hochschule für Musik Franz Liszt Weimar. Through these presentations, she helps audiences and students engage with contemporary performance practices, extended techniques, and the evolving language of twenty-first-century music.
Jixue holds Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees from Manhattan School of Music. Her principal teachers include Anthony de Mare, Margaret Kampmeier, Phillip Kawin, Solomon Mikowsky, Inesa Sinkevych, and Christopher Oldfather.
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