Class Piano

Class Piano Teaching Assistants for 2023-2024

Federico Ercoli is part of the new generation of artists who seek to combine musicological research and musical performance in their career. At ease on historical and modern keyboards, Federico studied harpsichord with Lisa Crawford, fortepiano with Mike Cheng-Yu Lee and piano with Alexander Kobrin, and is further specializing in historically informed performance practice under Paul O’Dette. He graduated with honors from the Conservatorio “Giuseppe Verdi” in Milan, studying with Annibale Rebaudengo and Silvia Limongelli. He then continued his studies at the Fondazione Santa Cecilia in Portogruaro, with Alessandro Taverna, and at the Accademia Pianistica Internazionale “Incontri col Maestro” in Imola, with Piero Rattalino. Under the latter’s artistic guidance, Federico developed an original approach to the repertoire, expanding his musical research to include historical-critical and aesthetic reflection. In 2020, he obtained a master’s degree in Musicology with top marks and honors from the University of Pavia, Cremona Department, with a thesis on new perspectives on staging Wagner. Already a winner of several national competitions, in June 2016 he won the First Prize at the Concorso Pianistico Internazionale “Andrea Baldi” in Bologna and in 2018 he is among the winners of the Ibla Grand Prize, thanks to which he has the opportunity to perform at the Recital Hall of the V.Sarajishvili Tbilisi State Conservatoire, at the KIOI Hall in Tokyo and at the Weill Recital Hall of Carnegie Hall in New York. In 2017, he participated in the Gran Galà Armonie della Sera, performing with the Solisti Aquilani the Concerto in D major by J. S. Bach in the Teatro dell’Aquila in Fermo. In the same year, he was chosen as the sole representative of the Milan Conservatory at the International Music Festival in Kyoto, Japan. In 2018, he closed the ASAM season at the Teatro Comunale di Siracusa, performing Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony transcribed by Franz Liszt. In 2021, he participated in the first performance in modern times of Giovanni Bottesini’s oratorio The Garden of Olivet, playing the symphonic transcription for piano. In 2022 he performed at Kodak Hall in Rochester, NY, with the Eastman Wind Ensemble in the first performance of Brad Lubman’s ESM 100. In 2023, he was awarded the Jerald C. Graue Fellowship by the Eastman School of Music faculty, a prestigious recognition of excellence in musicological research. He is currently pursuing a doctorate at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York, where he serves as a Teaching Assistant in the studio of Alexander Kobrin.

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Haniel Anugerah has appeared as a featured soloist in the Eastman Musica Nova Ensemble conducted by Brad Lubman. Being a passionate and versatile pianist, he has always had a special interest in performing works by contemporary and electroacoustic music composers, such as Kaija Saariaho, Kyong Mee Choi, Per Bloland, and Philippe Manoury.

Born in Indonesia, Haniel is currently a first-year graduate student for the M.M. program at the Eastman School of Music under the guidance of Joseph Rackers and Marina Lomazov. He has gained both international and national acclaim including his most recent winning of the Ricardo Viñes Prize and the Albert Roussel Prize at the 15th Concours International de Piano d’Orléans in 2022. He was also awarded the Second Prize at the Heddy Killian Empire State Competition in 2021.  He has performed in the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM) High Scorers’ Concert several times for maintaining Distinction scores six years in a row (2013 – 2018), and eventually obtained his ABRSM Diploma in 2018.

Besides playing the piano, Haniel has played a Yamaha Electric Organ series called the Electone. His passion in performing the Electone has earned him public concerts and awards: the Judges’ Special Award at the Yamaha Electone Concours (2016) in Tokyo, the Silver Prize at the Asia-Pacific Electone Festival (2015) in Taipei, a solo performance at the Junior Original Concert (2014) in Singapore, and a solo performance at the Yamaha Electone Festival (2011) in Sapporo. He is also an active composer and has several years of experience in composing music for piano solo, instrumental duo, string quartet, and film scoring.

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Na Young Koo is a DMA candidate at the Eastman School of Music studying under Natalya Antonova and Ran Dank. 

She completed her Master of Musical Arts studies at the Yale School of Music studying under Boris Berman and Wei-Yi Yang. Previously, she received an Artist Diploma from the Cleveland Institute of Music with Antonio Pompa-Baldi, where she was the recipient of the William Prize for outstanding progress in piano performance. Na Young graduated from New England Conservatory where she received a Master of Music studying with Bruce Brubaker. Her musical journey began at the University of Auckland in New Zealand, where she completed her Bachelor of Music with Qu Yong.

Performance highlights include Yale Vista Chamber Concert in Sprague Recital Hall, Cleveland Advanced Piano Trio Gala Concert in Mixon Hall, NEC Chamber Gala Concert at Jordan Hall, Graduation Gala Concerto at Auckland Town Hall. 

Na Young actively performs and participates in summer festivals, including Pianofest in the Hamptons, Chautauqua Music Festival, Chigiana Accademia Piano Intensive Program, Virtuoso & Belcanto festival and Todi Music Masters in Italy. 

She has also performed in masterclasses of distinguished pianists as Paul Schenly, Orion Weiss, Melvin Chen, Alexander Kobrin and Roberto Prosseda. 

As a dedicated collaborator, her vocal and instrumental duos and trios have had the honor of working with renowned chamber coaches, Boris Slutsky, Ani Kavafian, Syoko Aki, Ted Taylor, Peishan Lee and Anita Pontremoli.

Pui Wang (Leo) Choi is currently a first year M.M. at the Eastman School of Music, studying under the tutelage of Prof. Alexander Kobrin. A native of Hong Kong, Leo began playing the piano at the age of five and later at eight joined the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts (HKAPA) junior music program. In 2018, he was admitted into Oberlin Conservatory of Music, studying with Prof. Angela Cheng. As a performer, he has presented concerts in the United States and Hong Kong, including the Oberlin’s Danenberg Honors Recital, Barber Piano Concerto with Oberlin Orchestra, Sacred Heart Concert series, Children’s corner Debussy Mini Piano Marathon in Hong Kong Cultural Centre, as well as other public recitals held by HKAPA. He has won numerous competitions, including the Senior Concerto Competition, John Elvin Junior Prize Competition in Oberlin Conservatory of Music, and the Sixth Asian Youth Music Competition. He has also attended a number of music festivals with the likes of Mozarteum, where he studied with Prof. Robert Levin and Prof. Jacques Rouvier. He has attended the Oberlin-Como masterclasses taught by Maestro Robert Spano, Prof. Thai Son Dang, and Prof. Stanislav Ioudenitch as well.

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Xinyue (Scarlett) Zheng is a pianist from Nanjing, China. She is currently pursuing her Master of Music degree at Eastman School of Music in the studio of Prof. Alexander Kobrin. In her four years of college, she studied at ESM with Prof. Kobrin as well. During high school, she was a student of Susan Starr. She won the first prize of the 8th Nice Cote d’ Azur International Young Artists Competition. She won the 2nd prize in the 2017 International Young Artists Piano Competition. In the same year, she won the 3rd prize and Audience Choice Award in 2017 MostArts Festival Competition and collaborated with MostArts Festival Orchestra on a successful performance of Mozart Piano Concerto in d minor, k.466. Beside competitions, she actively participates in music festivals including Lancaster International Piano festival, Vivace International Music Festival and Chautauqua Music Festival and so on. As a concert pianist, she has successfully held solo recitals at many places including Nanjing Nanyi Concert Hall,Nanjing Muyin Concert Hall, Xiamen Wuyuan Concert Hall and the Concert Hall of Women ,Children Activity Center of Jiangsu Province and Hatch Hall at Eastman School of Music. Besides her passion for playing as a concert pianist, she is highly interested in teaching. During four years of college, she spent her summer break teaching piano back in her hometown, China, and she is very confident about her experience and ability in teaching.

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Steven Dong is a second-year graduate student for the M.M. program at the Eastman School of Music studying under Professor Alan Chow. He started piano lessons at the age of six and quickly discovered his passion for music.

Born in Michigan, Steven moved to Texas and studied piano there during his high school years with Mr. John Weems. He won several notable prizes at the Juanita Miller Concerto Competition, Houston Symphony League Concerto Competition, and South Texas Piano Competition, and made his debut with the Houston Symphony at the age of 16. More recently, Steven won prizes in the Kuleshov International Piano Competition, Thousand Island International Piano Competition and MTNA Texas Young Artists Competition during his undergraduate studies, which he also completed at Eastman with Professor Chow.  Last fall, he won the Eastman School Concerto Competition and performed Beethoven’s 2nd Piano Concerto with the Eastman School Symphony Orchestra. 

In his free time, Steven enjoys playing chess and basketball, watching sports, and hanging out with friends.

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Yun Chih Hsu, was praised as “One of the most potential young pianists” as well as “The mature performance and stage charm is beyond her age”. “Her control over pianissimo is astonishing. She has and absolutely precocious sense of duration and keyboard geography ” (Drimitry Bashkirov), award wining-pianist Yun Chih Hsu performs as a soloist and chamber musician throughout Europe, North America and Asia, at venue such as Taiwan National Concert Hall, Lincoln Center, Barcelona Palau de la Música Catalana. Hsu was the youngest first prize winner of the 12th Taipei International Chopin Piano Competition, the semi-finalist of the 11th International Paderewski Piano Competition in Bydgoszcz, Poland, and the Medalist of the 63rd Maria Canals International Piano Competition in Barcelona, Spain. After wining the 12th Taipei Chopin Piano Competition, she was invited to give concert in the great Braunschweig International Music Festival and Grotrian Steinway in Germany, and Kulturkontakt Eppan in Italy. In 2011, Yun Chih won the IMA music award in JAPAN and she was invited to perform in the IMA Rising Star Concert. In 2014, she was the first prize winner of the Norman Piano Competition and Bachauer Piano Scholarship Competition in United State, and was invited to perform in the “From the Top Radio Station” in Jordan Hall, at New England Conservatory, Massachusetts. In 2015, Yun Chih was awarded the Juilliard Commencement Award with honor and was accepted to the JuilliardSchool music division with full scholarship, in the same year, she was the winner of the Young Artist Concert Competition and was honor to be invited to perform with Forth Worth Symphony Orchestra in Texas, United State. 2016, Hsu was awarded as outstanding artist and performed in the Prize winner concert of Salzburg Music Festival and Leipzig International Felix Barthody Mendelssohn Music Festival. In 2017, was honor to be the winner of the Music Star Concert in Taiwan. 2019, Hsu was honored to be the finalist of Bachauer Scholarship Competition. In 2020, Hsu was invited by to be the endorser of the Rising Music Star in Taiwan.

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Yunling Zhang was born in Shanghai, China. In 2006, she entered the Music Primary School affiliated to Shanghai Conservatory of Music, studied with Professor Wu Zi-Jie. In 2009, she entered the Music Middle School affiliated to
Shanghai Conservatory of Music, studied with Professor Yang Yun-Lin. In 2015, Yunling received full scholarship and began studies in the Peabody Conservatory of the Johns Hopkins University, under the tutelage of Professor
Boris Slutsky. After receiving her BM degree, she continues her MM studies with Mr. Slutsky at Yale School of Music.
Yunling made her concerto debut in 2015, playing Schumann Piano Concerto in A minor with the Shanghai Philharmonic Orchestra. In 2019, she also performed Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 4 with Peabody Symphony Orchestra. As a soloist, Yunling held recitals in China, Europe, Canada, and the US, appearing on stage in Beijing, Shanghai, HongKong, Xiamen, Wuhan, Baltimore, Bydgoszcz, New Haven, Calgary, and other cities around the world.
Yunling is the winner of many piano competitions, such as the First Prize winner of the Harrison L. Winter Concerto Competition, the First Prize winner of the 5th HongKong Asia Youth Piano Competition, the Second Prize winner
of the Zhou Guangren Young Pianist Award, and the Second Prize of the 5th Gu Lang Yu National Piano Competition, etc. She also won the Mastroianni Award of the Amalfi Coast Music Festival in 2018. As an avid chamber music
performer, Yunling and her Piano Trio “Alchemie” studied with Professor Yu Yin-Jia, and performed in various cities. She obtained First Prize in the 3rd Chamber Music Competition of Shanghai Conservatory of Music, First Prize in
the Chamber Music Competition of the Morningside Music Bridge, Fifth Prize in the 2014 Alice & Eleanor Schoenfeld International String Competition (Chamber Division). As a student, she has received masterclasses from Gar
Graffman, András Schiff, Murray Perahia, Alexander Korsantia, John Perry, Vladimir Tropp, Fou Ts’ong, Gabriel Kwok, etc.
Graduating from Yale School of Music in 2022, Yunling is currently pursuing her Doctorate degree (DMA) in Eastman School of Music, under the guidance of Professor Marina Lomazov.

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Hailed by Het Concertgebouw in Amsterdam as “The future giant among the piano soloists”, Chinese pianist Xu Guo has appeared in concerts in major cities of China, USA, Netherland, Romania, Croatia, Poland, Latvia, Finland, Estonia, Lithuania, Thailand, etc., including performances at the Royal Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, Weill Recital Hall of Carnegie Hall in New York, Jordan Hall in Boston, Prince Mahidol Hall in Bangkok, Concert hall of the Katowice Miasto Ogrodów, Forbidden City Concert Hall in Beijing, etc. Currently season include a concert tour at the Shanghai Oriental Art Center, Xinghai Concert Hall, Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay, and concerto performance of Prokofiev Piano Concerto No.3 with Thailand Philharmonic Orchestra at Price Mahidol Hall in Bangkok.

Her performance had appeared in Holland National Radio — NPO 4 Classical Chanel, and her album “Xu Guo and Yutong Sun – Hear HER Voice” released by QQ Music was awarded as “the best of Classical – Romantic Period Album” of 2022. Her performance of Mozart Piano Concerto in d minor was claimed by the Bangkok Post as “…sublime reading…with a freshness and scrupulous attention to detail…followed in the tradition of Mitsuko Uchida in sensibility and taste…Xu’s relish of Mozart’s ingenious writing shined through as her fingers rippled upward…”.

Xu is a prize winner of many international piano competitions, among her recent awards are:

  • the 1st Prize of The V Thailand International Piano Competition, with two special prizes “Best Romance Prize” and “Audience Prize” in 2018;
  • The 1st Prize of the 6th Karlovac International Piano Competition, along with the Audience Award in 2019;
  • The 1st Prize of New York International Artist Piano Competition in 2021;
  • The Absolute Award at the 3rd WPTA Finland International Piano Competition in 2021;
  • The 3rd Prize at the 2nd “Sviatoslav Richter” International Piano Competition in 2021.

Born in 1995, Xu was admitted to The Music School Attached to the Central Conservatory of Music, later earning degrees including Bachelor of Music, Master of Music, and Graduate Diploma from New England Conservatory in Boston. She has studied with Xiaomei Xue, Hua Chang, Meng-Chieh Liu, HaeSun Paik, and Dang Thai Son. Currently, Xu is a DMA (Doctor of Music Art) candidate at Eastman School of Music under the guidance of Alexander Kobrin.