Piano study at Northwestern is designed to prepare young artists for the multifaceted opportunities awaiting them in today’s music world.

The piano curriculum is centered around individual private lessons, where students are encouraged to explore the incredible variety of repertoire available to pianists. Performance opportunities abound and include studio classes, weekly recital hours, a concerto competition, and opportunities for performances off campus. In addition, there are many competitions in the Chicago area which offer performances as well as cash prizes.

The piano faculty is comprised of experienced artist-teachers whose careers represent a diversity of backgrounds. Their comprehensive approach to education encourages students to cultivate their own voices and musical values. The relatively small size of our program—typically less than 50 students total in all degree programs—creates a community that is collegial but motivated toward achievement.

All pedagogy coursework integrates instruction with practical experience. Teaching includes working with students of wide age range and advancement levels. Faculty feedback and audio/video taping provide continuous feedback for maximum professional growth. The Music Academy, sponsored by the Bienen School of Music, with instruction for both children and adults, offers on-campus opportunities for directed teaching in both individual and group lesson settings.

All DMA students receive a full-tuition scholarship, stipend, and fully subsidized health insurance.

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Recent Student News

Isaiah Adams won first prize in the collegiate division of the Illinois State Music Teachers Association piano competition.

Yun-Hua Chang won the Musicians Club of Women’s Nerenberg Award.

Dominic Doutney won first prize in the Seattle International Piano Competition, first prize and the audience prize in the Washington International Competition, and a classical music fellowship from the Luminarts Cultural Foundation.

Evelyn Fan won first prize in the Illinois Music Teachers National Association young artist competition.

Anya Liu won a Farwell Award from the Musicians Club of Women

Angeline Ma won first prize in the Music Teachers National Association Young Artist Competition, third prize and the award for best duo sonata performance in the PianoArts North American Competition, and fourth prize in the National Chopin Piano Competition. She won the concerto competition of the 2024 PianoTexas International Festival and Academy, received a 2024 Nerenberg Award from the Musicians Club of Women, and was named a Gilmore International Keyboard Festival Fellow.

Chelsea Wang was selected as a member of the Ensemble Connect.

Ke Wang won first prize in the Pedro Espinosa Piano Competition and was a winner in the 2024 Evanston Music Club–North Shore Musicians Club Scholarship Competition.

Paul Williamson won a classical music fellowship from the Luminarts Cultural Foundation.

Seho Young won third prize in the Dallas International Piano Competition.
 

Skyline Piano Artist Series

Established in 2015, the Skyline Piano Artist Series presents award-winning performers and takes full advantage of the exquisite acoustics and remarkable views of the Chicago skyline in the school’s premier recital venue, the Mary B. Galvin Recital Hall.

Jean Gimbel Lane Prize in Piano Performance

The Bienen School awards the Jean Gimbel Lane Prize biennially to a distinguished pianist. Recipients—who have included Richard Goode, Stephen Hough, Yefim Bronfman, Murray Perahia, Garrick Ohlsson, Emanuel Ax, Marc-André Hamelin, András Schiff, Maria João Pires and Leif Ove Andsnes—make multiple visits to campus to perform and teach.

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Faculty Emeritae