ALUMNI
TAN NGUYEN
EVAN HU
Evan Hu is a senior at Yale University majoring in Economics and Mathematics, and an incoming Economics PhD Student at Harvard University. He is primarily interested in the fields of macroeconomics, international trade, and behavioral economics. In particular, he is excited about the potential for economics research to impact economic policy and improve the welfare of individuals. In his research, he aims to understand drivers of wealth inequality across individuals, geography, and time, as well as analyze policies to address such issues.
He is endlessly grateful for the 10+ years spent as student under Dr. Lee as well as the memories created with fellow pianists and members of the Lee Studio. To this day, some of his fondest memories include performing in senior homes and hospitals, and he is inspired by music's altruistic power. These experiences have in part influenced his aspirations of becoming an economics researcher, as he hopes to use economics research to enact positive change in the world.
ERIC LINEric Lin is an alumnus of Lee Studios from 2012-2018 and graduated with Highest Honors from Harvard in 2022 for his Bachelor's and Master's in Computer Science. He leads a team of researchers that protect people from the safety and ethical risks of AI as Head of Applied AI at DynamoFL.
He is thankful for his lifelong memories, friendships, and love of music that was nurtured under Dr. Lee's tutelage. To this day, nothing has been more thrilling than performing the entirety of Prokofiev's Third Piano Concerto with the National Symphony Orchestra at the Kennedy Center and the countless other concerts and international competitions. Even more meaningful than those memories of bright stage lights are the life lessons cultivated from the years of striving to improve as a musician. Eric is grateful for music teaching him how to pause and reflect, how to listen to himself and others, and how to tell a story that truly touches others. He believes these skills are the hardest to learn yet represent the best of what it means to be human in a world that increasingly adopts AI. |
FIFI ZHANGFifi is a freelance pianist in New York City, maintaining a full performing schedule and a private studio. An alumnus of the Columbia-Juilliard Exchange, Fifi holds a BA in History from Columbia University and an MM in Piano Performance An alumnus of the Columbia-Juilliard Exchange, Fifi holds a BA in History from Columbia University and an MM in Piano Performance from Juilliard. She also attained a performance diploma from Mannes School of Music. Fifi is currently a doctoral candidate at CUNY Graduate Center, where she is working on a critical examination of classical music performance through a phenomenological lens. |
Dr. Emely Phelps |
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Jessica Xylina Osborne
Hailed by the Washington Post as a pianist “with a refreshing mellowness and poetic touch” after her debut with the National Symphony Orchestra, Jessica Xylina Osborne is one of the most intensely expressive and passionate artists of her generation. She is widely considered to be one of the most sought-after collaborative partners, and has worked closely with some of the world's finest musicians, including Timothy Eddy, Hilary Hahn, and Mark Kosower. She has performed throughout the continental U.S., Europe, and Asia, and has appeared in recitals at many of the world's most celebrated venues, including Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, the Kennedy Center, the Musée du Louvre in Paris, and the Seoul Arts Center. Radio broadcasts include performances on Minnesota Public Radio’s A Prairie Home Companion, Performance Today, WQXR’s McGraw Hill Young Artists’ Showcase in New York, and WGMS in Washington, D.C., among others. Dr. Osborne is a laureate of international piano competitions, including the Bartók-Kabalevsky-Prokofiev Piano Competition, the International Russian Music Piano Competition, and the Houston Symphony’s Ima Hogg Competition. In her solo career, Dr. Osborne undertakes ambitious projects that reflect creativity in programming with the goal of bringing infrequently performed works to a mainstream audience. For example, her 2017 - 2018 solo recital program provides a fresh look at the salon concert, pairing music by lesser-known composers with related, more familiar selections that were either written for or arranged for performance in the salon. She is also dedicated to including music written by women in her recital programs. Dr. Osborne holds degrees in solo piano performance from Indiana University and Rice University, and a Doctorate of Musical Arts in piano performance from Yale University. She has served as piano faculty at music festivals worldwide, including the Heifetz Institute in Staunton, VA and the Academie Anglicorde in Boulogne-Billancourt, France. She currently resides in New York City, where she is Artist Faculty at Third Street Music Settlement. |
CLAIRE PENG |
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Claire Peng will be a freshman at the [insert future college!!!] this fall. She plans to study neuroscience and the history of medicine because learning about what makes people tick is fascinating. Claire studied piano with Dr. Lee for six years, from 6th grade to 12th grade. Thanks to her teaching, Claire has learned how to come to peace with the unpredictability of music. Dr. Lee showed her the value of actively listening to your sound and shaping the music to your own appreciation. Her favorite composers to play are Ravel, Bach, and Chopin. Ravel’s impressionist pieces evoke the leaves rustling outside her window while she practices. Bach offers the freedom of interpretation and therefore a plethora of contrasting recordings (her favorites are by Glenn Gould). As for Chopin, well, Claire has spent countless hours toiling over Chopin’s pieces that she has grown to love the satisfaction of playing them.
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JOANNA CHENG
A graduate of Thomas Jefferson High School, I will be starting college at Georgia Tech this fall. I've been in Dr. Lee's studio since 2009 and enjoyed every minute of it. Along the way I've met so many other musicians and learned so much about musicality, expression, and technique. I've made progress each year thanks to Dr. Lee's support. Seeing myself improve and being able to play pieces I thought were way too difficult is definitely super satisfying. My favorite composers are Ravel, Liszt, and Prokofiev. Besides piano, I like to read and play cards with my family, including my younger brother, and we also like to travel often. I was this year's first-place winner of the Virginia State level of the Music Teachers National Association High School Piano Competition.
JAMES BENNETT
BRYAN HO, M. D.
Bryan formerly studied in Lee Studios for 7 years. I am now (2024) in my second year of general surgery residency (out of seven!), and while busy with long hours and night calls, am thoroughly enjoying learning to operate at the Yale School of Medicine. I am excited to finally purchase my first piano - a Baldwin grand piano. I am eagerly eyeing my next to years of protected research time as I'll hopefully have more time to maintain my piano practicing.
Bryan tells me that his piano study helped him develop strong and disciplined independent study skills. Years of piano practice have also been invaluable for developing the finger dexterity needed for suturing and knot-tying in the OR, especially deep in the body where there’s not much space and you sometimes can’t even see where your fingers are!
Bryan tells me that his piano study helped him develop strong and disciplined independent study skills. Years of piano practice have also been invaluable for developing the finger dexterity needed for suturing and knot-tying in the OR, especially deep in the body where there’s not much space and you sometimes can’t even see where your fingers are!
EVAN HU
Evan Hu is a rising Sophomore at Yale University, where he majors in computer science and statistics. He aspires to become a data scientist to help companies and individuals worldwide to make policy decisions and create innovative products. In his free time, he plans to continue piano performance and volunteer at local hospitals and senior homes to bring joy to patients and staff.
Evan has been a member of our studio for eleven years.
Evan has been a member of our studio for eleven years.
JEFFERY YU |
Jeffery Yu is a rising senior at MIT studying math and physics. His current interests are focused on number theory and quantum information. He was an avid participant in olympiads and team competitions throughout high school, and is currently one of the lead organizers of HMMT. In his free time, he enjoys music as a pianist and violinist, as well as playing strategic board games and card games.
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ANNELISA CRABTREE
KEVIN ZHANG |
Kevin and Eric at Harvard. Kevin will complete his last year at OXFORD 2022-2023.
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ANDREW ZHANG
Andrew won the MTNA Junior Piano State Competition for D.C. in 2017 and the James Bland Region 3 Competition in 2019. He also received second place in the 2019 Steinway Washington Piano Competition and Alternate for the Gertrude Brown Memorial Piano Concerto Competition in 2018. Andrew is also an avid pianist at his schools, where he accompanied his school choir during their Music in the Parks event and received Outstanding Accompanist award at Hershey Park and Busch Gardens in 2016 and 2017 respectively. Andrew was also accepted into the Virginia Residential Governor's School for Visual and Performing Arts where he was among the 10 finalists admitted in over 950 applicants.
Andrew also loves to contribute to his community through music. He has worked with the Tacy Foundation since 2016 and has performed countless times at hospitals and elderly homes in Virginia. He has been the Chief Intern and Event Coordinator since 2018 for the “Live Music at Larmax Homes in Mclean" event and has held 21 concerts at the homes. Andrew has also recorded music CDs for distribution to hospitals, nursing homes, and the military. Thanks to Dr.Lee’s instruction, Andrew has learned of the impact that music has on others and he will continue his endeavors into the future.
Andrew also loves to contribute to his community through music. He has worked with the Tacy Foundation since 2016 and has performed countless times at hospitals and elderly homes in Virginia. He has been the Chief Intern and Event Coordinator since 2018 for the “Live Music at Larmax Homes in Mclean" event and has held 21 concerts at the homes. Andrew has also recorded music CDs for distribution to hospitals, nursing homes, and the military. Thanks to Dr.Lee’s instruction, Andrew has learned of the impact that music has on others and he will continue his endeavors into the future.
Philena is a rising junior at YALE this year...