Ya-Ju Chuang, D.M.A.

About Ya-Ju

Ya-Ju Chuang is an active performer, appearing as a soloist, chamber musician, collaborative pianist, and music educator. As a performer, Chuang has been awarded numerous prizes and scholarships in Taiwan and the United States. She was a National Finalist at The American Prize in Piano Performance (concerto)- The Lorin Hollander Award, first prize winner at the Golden Classical Music Awards, Brussels Grand Prize Virtuoso International Competition, American Protégé International Competition, Concerto Competition at Michigan State University, and Tuesday Musical Association scholarship competition. She was also a top prize winner in the National Taiwan Piano Competition. As a collaborative pianist, she has performed with many artists such as Martin Chalifour, Elaine Douvas, Leelanee Sterrett, Bing Wang, Yevgeny Kutik, Scott Dixon, Patrick Williams, Richard Sherman, Jane Bunnell, Marc Embree, and Robert Spring. Chuang’s performances have been featured on Traverse Symphony Orchestra’s Maestro Series, Great Lakes Chamber Orchestra’s Sunday Series, Alluvion Concert Series, Absolute Music Chamber Series, NPR's From the Top, WKAR Public Media, and Interlochen Public Radio. As a pedagogue, Chuang presented in the MMTA State Conference, the MTNA Collegiate Chapter Piano Pedagogy Symposium, and MTNA Conference.

Chuang received her D.M.A. in Piano Performance and M.M. in Piano Pedagogy from Michigan State University, M.M. in Piano Performance from Kent State University, and B.M. in Piano Performance from University of Taipei. Her primary teachers include Panayis Lyras, Derek Polischuk, Jerry Wong, Lin-Ju Ou, Juanelva Rose, and Ming-Jen Chuang. Chuang is a Collaborative Pianist at Interlochen Arts Academy and Camp.

Music is very personal. I believe in creating a safe and enthusiastic environment for my students to navigate their individual music paths.