Hanbo Liu, Pianist and Composer (Director)

Hanbo Liu is a pianist and composer, graduated from The Juilliard School in New York City with a master degree, where he studied piano with the world renowned pianist Yeheved Kaplinsky since pre-college. He received the Outstanding Asian Award in New York City. He has performed close to 100 concerts in the United States and China, at important venues including the Lincoln Center’s Alice Tully Hall, Avery Fisher Hall, Carnegie Hall, and United Nations Assembly Hall in New York City, Aspen Music Festival, Bowdoin International Music Festival, Hong Kong TVB, China Central TV (CCTV) in Beijing, Beijing Olympic Water Cube National Aquatics Center, and Anhui TV Spring Festival Gala. He has composed around 40 piano pieces and songs which are either included in his worldwide-released original albums, or for films such as the film music he has been working on recently for the Rollin Studios which is the US Co-Production company for the Wandering Earth 2 film. He has won numerous piano competitions including winning the Elizabeth R. Davis Piano Competition, Nora Lichtenberg Piano Competition, and Juilliard Piano Concerto Competition in New York City.

Felicia Moore, Soprano Singer

Renowned Soprano Singer Felicia Moore received her Artist Diploma (AD) in performance from the Juilliard School in New York City. She is a singer at the Metropolitan Opera, and her voice has been hailed as, “transfixing, marked by tonal brilliance and emotional eloquence” by Joshua Kosman, SF Gate. 

Felicia is noted by The Wall Street Journal for her “opulent, Wagner-scaled soprano” and acclaimed by The New York Times as the “lustrous, commanding soprano.” She has won many prestigious awards including Birgit Nilsson Prize in the Operalia World Opera Competition, First Place Award in the James Toland Vocal Arts Competition, First Place Award in the Jensen Foundation Vocal Competition, and First Place Award in the William Matheus Sullivan Foundation Competition.

Felicia has performed extensively across the world including concert appearances with Metropolitan Opera, Deutsche Oper Berlin, New York Philharmonic, Cleveland Orchestra, Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra, Dallas Symphony Orchestra, New Jersey Symphony, Phoenix Symphony, New Orleans Opera, Opera Maine, Lakes Area Music Festival, Palm Beach Opera, San Diego Symphony, Milwaukee Symphony, Las Vegas Philharmonic, Houston Symphony, National Arts Centre Orchestra, and Danish National Symphony Orchestra.

Jinyoung Song, Violinist

Violinist and Doctor Jinyoung Song is renowned for her technical prowess and artistic expression, earning recognition as a versatile and accomplished musician. Dr. Song began her academic journey at Kyunghee University, where she was awarded scholarships for her undergraduate studies, before advancing to the Manhattan School of Music for her Master’s Degree. She further pursued a Professional Studies Diploma at the Mannes School of Music, also on scholarship. Most recently, she completed her Doctor of Musical Arts Degree at Rutgers University’s Mason Gross School of the Arts, where her thesis explored the works of female composer Amy Beach, reflecting her deep appreciation for Beach’s contributions to music. A prize winner at both the New York International Concours and the Mason Gross Chamber Competition, Dr. Song has performed at prestigious events such as the Texas Music Festival and the National Repertory Orchestra, attending both on full scholarship. She also served as Principal Violinist for the Rutgers Symphony Orchestra. Her performance credits include appearances at iconic venues like Carnegie Hall’s Isaac Stern Auditorium, Riverwalk Center in Breckenridge, and Lincoln Center’s Alice Tully Hall. Mentored by esteemed violinists Lucie Robert and Todd Phillips, Dr. Song has developed a unique musical voice. As an educator, she remains passionate about guiding the next generation of musicians, with many of her students successfully earning spots in All-State Orchestras as well as other festival ensembles.

Yi Ming (Sofyia) Xue, Singer

Yi Ming (Sofyia) Xue is an aspiring singer, performer, and entertainer of the new generation. She graduated with a Bachelor Degree in Voice Performance from Berklee College of Music, the largest independent college of contemporary music in the world, located in Boston, Massachusetts, with concentrations on vocal performance, songwriting, and music production. Sofyia is a featured vocalist for Disney’s Harmonious Live 2022, now streaming on Disney+, and also the original singer for the theme song of CCTV drama “Qing Shan Bu Mo.” She has won numerous singing competitions including the first prize of The Voice of China 2023 New York, the Water Cube International Chinese Singing Competition in Beijing, US Supernova Singing Competition, and performed in many important events and venues including the Lincoln Center, NYC, China’s CCTV, Sinovision TV, and Water Cube Olympic Stadium.

Xiaoya Gao, Pianist

Dr. Xiaoya (Sisi) Gao is a dedicated pianist and music educator. She has performed solo and chamber music recitals in various venues including the Blackbox Theatre in New York City and Palais Corbelli in Vienna, Austria. Dr. Gao received her Doctor of Musical Arts in Piano Pedagogy from the University of South Carolina, and a Master’s Degree in Piano Performance and an Advanced Certificate from New York University. 

As a faculty member at NYU, Dr. Gao taught undergraduate piano lessons and group classes.

 

Kimberly Hou, Composer and Pianist

Kimberly Hou is a composer and pianist whose recent scoring credits include Fish Out Of Water (dir. Francesca Scorsese), which premiered at the 2023 Tribeca Festival and screened at the 76th Cannes Film Festival Short Film Corner; The Polycees (dir. Celia Jaspers), official selection at Dances With Films (DWF:LA); and the web series Drama High (dir. Elizabeth Jaeleigh Davis), the pilot of which won Best Director (Webseries) and Best Ensemble Cast (Webseries) at First Glance Film Festival. Her music has also been placed in BBC’s Winterwatch, TF1’s Reportages découvertes, and SportsNet LA’s Backstage Dodgers among other TV programs globally.
For her achievements growing up as a classical pianist, the U.S. White House Commission named Kimberly a Presidential Scholar in the Arts, and she was recognized by the National Young Arts Foundation as a Silver Award Winner. In addition to receiving First Prize in over 30 national and regional competitions, Kimberly has appeared on NPR’s From the Top and performed at Carnegie Hall’s Weill Hall, Kennedy Center Concert Hall, U.S. Department of State, and the Hungarian and Bulgarian Embassies.
Kimberly is a graduate of the Columbia University-Juilliard School Exchange Program in New York City. Her professors at Juilliard include Matti Raekallio and Hung-Kuan Chen.

Chang Ruihong, Violinist

Violinist Chang Ruihong received her master’s degree at Mannes School of Music in New York. She has won prestigious awards, including the Schoenfeld International String Competition and Hong Kong International Violin Competition. Her performances includes concerts in the United States, China, and Europe. Currently, she is playing in the Rutgers Symphony Orchestra, and studying for a doctorate degree in violin performance with Todd Phillips, the most famous violin and chamber music master in New York. 

Jane Leng, Pianist and Composer

Pianist and Composer Jane Leng graduated from the Shanghai Conservatory of Music with a double major in Piano and Composition. She is a certified member of the Shanghai Musicians Association and a qualified teacher accredited by the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM) based in the United Kingdom. She has extensive experience in teaching piano and music theory including ABRSM exam preparation, for students of various ages. She can customize teaching methods based on individual learning styles and personalities, and emphasize on both technical proficiency and musical expression, with strong communication skills with both students and parents, fostering a positive and supportive music learning environment.

Youngbin Jo, Violinist

Violinist Youngbin Jo earned a Master of Music (M.M.) in Violin Performance from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where she studied violin with Elizabeth Chang and viola with Kathryn Lockwood. She also received a Performance Diploma with a concentration in Jazz Violin from Berklee College of Music, studying with renowned faculty member Rob Thomas.
Ms. Jo has been teaching violin and viola since 1997. Known for her passionate and energetic teaching style, Ms. Jo has successfully helped her students to join with prestigious youth ensembles, including the Philadelphia Youth Orchestra and the New Jersey Youth Symphony. Many of her students have been accepted into highly selective pre-college music programs, including the Manhattan School of Music Precollege Division in New York City.
Ms. Jo is an active member of the New Jersey Music Teachers Association (NJMTA), the Music Teachers National Association (MTNA), and the Suzuki Association of the Americas (SAA). In recognition of her dedication to music education and student achievements, she has received Outstanding Teacher Awards from the New York International Music Competition, the Prima Volta Music Competition, and Music Fest.

Youjin Cho, Soprano Singer

Soprano singer Youjin Cho is a dedicated performer and educator, widely recognized for her artistry on stage and her commitment to nurturing the next generation of singers.

Ms. Cho has a Master of Music degree from Rutgers University, where she studied under renowned soprano Nancy Gustafson.

As a voice teacher, she has guided numerous students to success in recent years, with many earning placements in All-State choirs and receiving top prizes in various competitions.

Her highlighted performances include Micaëla in Carmen, Alice in Alice Tierney, Giulietta in Les contes d’Hoffmann, Norina in Don Pasquale, Giorgetta in Il tabarro, Susannah in Susannah, Pamina and First Lady in Die Zauberflöte, Violetta in La traviata, Servilia in La clemenza di Tito, and Mustardseed in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. She has appeared as a soloist in works such as Mozart’s Vesperae solennes de confessore and Britten’s Rejoice in the Lamb, showcasing her versatility and expressive depth.