Faculty

Profile

Artist website: jy-song.com

Raised in Switzerland and the United States, J.Y. Song brings a distinctive cross-cultural perspective to a career shaped by a curiosity across multiple disciplines: music, science, and entrepreneurship. Since her Lincoln Center recital debut, she has been noted for her imaginative programming, distinctive musical voice, and breadth of intellectual interests, and is widely respected as both a compelling performer and an inspiring pedagogue.

She has performed on the world's most prestigious stages, including Carnegie Hall, Alice Tully Hall, and the Mostly Mozart Festival at Lincoln Center. Her international presence includes the Théâtre de l’Athénée and Salle Cortot in Paris, the National Gallery and Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., and the Beijing Center for the Performing Arts. Her performances have drawn critical acclaim: Harris Goldsmith praised her “truly astounding technical and imaginative resources.” Among her many distinctions are the Pro Musicis International Award, the prestigious American Pianists Award, finalist at the Gina Bachauer International Piano Competition, Gold Medal at the Palm Beach Invitational, and the Petschek Award, Juilliard’s highest honor for a pianist. Demonstrating her versatility, she performed the Mexican premiere of Clara Schumann’s Piano Concerto on four days’ notice.

J.Y. Song’s recording on the Pro Piano label have received international acclaim. Her recording of Debussy’s Etudes was awarded a Diapason d’Or and named a “Desert Island Selection” by Gramophone. In addition to insightful interpretations of core repertoire, she has recorded works by Ezequiel Viñao and Jiang Wen Ye. The latter inspired filmmaker Hou Hsiao-Hsien in the creation of Café Lumière, which was nominated for the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival.

Song’s academic background reflects her interdisciplinary approach. She holds dual Bachelor’s degrees in Music and Microbiology & Immunology from Stanford University, an MBA from NYU Stern School of Business, and a Doctor of Musical Arts from The Juilliard School. Her principal teachers include Alexei Golovin, Edouardo Vercelli, and Jean-François Antonioli in Switzerland, and with Jerome Lowenthal at Juilliard.

As an educator and leader, she has served for eight years as Artistic Director of the European American Musical Alliance and Classics Abroad piano programs at the École Normale de Musique de Paris. She is currently the Artistic Director of the Mahidol International Piano Festival in Thailand. She has given masterclasses in China, Taiwan, Europe and the United States, including each summer at the Chautauqua Institution, and has served on the jury of international competitions. She teaches Leadership & Innovation at Juilliard, and is on the piano faculty of the Mannes School of Music in New York. J.Y. Song is a Steinway Artist.

Degrees Held

B.A. in Music & B.S. in Microbiology and Immunology (distinction and honors), Stanford University; D.M.A., The Juilliard School; M.B.A., NYU Stern School of Business

Professional Affiliation

Steinway Artist, Pro Musicis board member, Stanford Alumni Association, Juilliard Alumni Association.

Performances and Appearances

Summer festival faculty: Beijing International Music Festival (BIMFA), Chautauqua Institution, Mahidol International Piano Festival (Thailand).

Awards And Honors

Diapason d'Or; American Pianists Association Award; Pro Musicis International Award; Pro Piano Artist of the Year; Petschek Award from The Juilliard School.