Francis Chung-Yang Huang

Keyboard

Hometown: Yilan, Taiwan

Alma maters: Bard College Conservatory of Music, B.A. & B.M. 2023; M.M. 2025

Photo credit

What is your earliest memory of classical music?

My mom bought me a DVD of a concert in which Yefim Bronfman played Beethoven’s 5th Piano Concerto and Pinchas Zukerman conducted the IsraeliPhilharmonic Orchestra. I love the piece, and Bronfman’s chubby face was shaking so much that it made a three-year-old boy laugh and become interested in piano playing.

Was there a teacher who was particularly impactful/helpful? What made this instructor stand out?

The most impactful teacher to me was Peter Serkin. I had the pleasure to study with him in the last two and a half years in his life. I learned so much from him, and he had a unique way of teaching to make sure that I remember the principles of piano playing. I am still thinking and benefiting from our lessons that were years ago.

How did you hear about TŌN? What inspired you to apply?

I joined the Bard Conservatory in 2018, so I soon learned how great the program is. I went to most of the TŌN concerts, and I turned pages for my teacher Peter Serkin when he played some chamber music with TŌN musicians. When I learned that there was a position open for a keyboardist, I was so thrilled and I decided to apply for it.

Do you have a favorite non-classical musician or band?

There’s a Japanese rock duo I love, Yorushika.

If you weren’t a musician, what would you be doing?

I would probably go back to study Marxism. I was very interested in it during my undergraduate studies.