Oberlin Portrait: Fan Yang

Prokofiev's Piano Concerto No. 2, Op. 16, is a challenging work for any pianist. But Fan Yang has never been one to turn away from a challenge. Yang, one of this past year's concerto competition winners, performed the piece with the Oberlin Chamber Orchestra in May, two weeks before receiving her bachelor of music degree in piano performance.

Her formal music education began when she was accepted into the Shanghai Conservatory--just before her tenth birthday. "I really did not expect to get into such a prestigious school. They have fewer than 60 students total, and they only accept eight new pianists per year."

With less than four years of study under her belt, Yang had only studied with one teacher--her father. "I had never even had piano lessons outside of my house. My father taught me, but he is not a pianist."

Yang grew up in the Anhui province of China, in Huainan, where her family noticed her musical talents at a very young age. "When I was a baby, my parents would sing to me to calm me down, and I would hum along; even if they changed keys, I would match their singing." Her fascination with music would soon focus on the piano. "As I got older, I would hear someone playing the piano, and I would stop everything to listen to the sound."

Yang’s household was an artistic environment; her father is an oboist, her mother is a dancer, and her sister--who also plays the piano--studies voice. "My father was, informally, my first music teacher," she says. "We would go on walks, and he and I would walk in various rhythms and meters. He would show me how they worked."

Yang also dabbled in other musical activities around the house. "My sister and I would often play music together after dinner, and take turns switching instruments. I'd play the piano and she would sing, and vice versa."

Yang studied for nine years at the Shanghai Conservatory before coming to Oberlin. "It was a really incredible time for me. They took very good care of us, and it was a special experience to be with so many talented people. I really matured a lot there, musically and personally."

Yang’s experiences in her first few weeks at Oberlin were very challenging, as she spoke no English upon her arrival. "I was taking music history class, music theory, all of my required classes, but I did not understand anything. My first 2 or 3 lessons with my teacher, [Professor of Piano] Sedmara Rutstein, were also difficult, but music is a universal language, and we were able to do what we needed to do."

Four years later, her English is very good. "I learned from my friends; they were very patient with me while I was learning."

Yang will attend the Manhattan School of Music in the fall, where she will pursue a master’s degree in piano performance. She has learned that opportunities are often unforeseeable, and plans to keep her options open after finishing graduate school. "I just want to live in the music world, and be inspired and inspiring. I am working hard, and I know I’m headed in the right direction."

What inspired you to become a musician? What keeps you inspired on discouraging days?

The magic of communicating with people through music--a language not limited by time and space--keeps me inspired. I get discouraged sometimes, but if I think about doing anything else, that makes me sadder, and I realize this is what I want to do.

What is the most memorable performance you have ever seen and why?

I think the most memorable performance I’ve seen was a concert by Boris Berezovsky, a past winner of the Tchaikovsky Piano Competition. He gave a concert in China, and his playing was so sincere, it amazed me. I also saw a performance by a contemporary dance company from Paris that really moved me--it was so powerful, just beyond imagination. Dance combines music and design and movement, and I find it intense and wonderful.

If you could perform with any musician, living or dead, who would it be? What would you perform?

I hate to choose! When I perform, I always think that I am with the composer, so I almost feel as if I have performed with the composers of all of the music I have played. I’d probably like to perform with the composers of the future, to see what will come. I’d also love to improvise with Mozart, or play the Vision de l’Amen with Messaien.

If you could master another instrument, what would it be?

I would be a conductor, because I like to create musical ideas, and as a conductor I could fully bring those ideas out with the performers. Voice would also be a possibility.

If you could not be a musician, what other profession would you choose? What profession would you definitely not choose?

Perhaps an artist or writer--anything that involves creating and inspiring people through the arts. Or maybe an actress, since I could experience many different lives, but I would not want to be really famous. I would not choose any jobs that were not creative.

What do you listen to for inspiration? In your free time?

I like to sit outside and listen to the sounds of nature. I think music is derived from the sounds, shapes, and colors of nature. I really love jazz also.

What do you like to read?

I like to read contemporary Chinese poetry and essays. I also really enjoy reading letters from friends.

What are three words that describe you?

Sincere, sensitive, and creative.