Skip to main content

Yi-Fang Wu

Pre-College
  • Chamber Music
  • Early Childhood
  • Piano
Yi-Fang Wu Headshot

Contact

ywu@sfcm.edu

Departments

Courses Taught

Chamber Music

Piano

Early Childhood

Education

MM, Cleveland Institute of Music

Q&A

What is your hometown?

Taiwan

What is your favorite recording? Why?

Too many, but I can listen to Seong-Jin Cho played Debussy's Bergamesque Suite all day long, he has created such colorful sound that makes every notes so different and interesting. 

What are you passionate about outside of music?

Hiking and food 

Who were your major teachers?

Paul Schenly, Daniel Shapiro and Anita Pontremoli 

What is a favorite quote that you repeatedly tell students?

"To play a wrong note is insignificant; to play without passion is inexcusable." - Ludwig van Beethoven

What question do you wish students would ask sooner rather than later?

What do you play piano and decide to become a musician?

What was the defining moment when you decided to pursue music as a career?

In my sophomore year as an English Literature student, I spent much more time on piano than reading literature, and I can't imagine the day without playing the piano.

What was a turning point in your career?

Too many, first turning point is the first year doing collaborative piano at cim that I met so many great friends/musicians who inspired me to be a better musician/person. Second turning point is after I moved to the Bay Area in 2013, and I have met several great people who are kind and nice to me and helped me to grow my career in a new place.

If you weren't a musician or teacher, what do you think you would be doing now?

Arts Administrator 

What is your daily practice routine?

I usually practice and rehearse in the morning after sending my kid to daycare. I like starting with scales and striking big chords to warm up.

If you could play only three composers for the rest of your life, who would they be?

Bach, Chopin, Debussy.

Biography

Equally active as a soloist, chamber musician, and pedagogue, Yi-Fang Wu is dedicated to passing on her passion for music to the younger generation. Yi-Fang welcomes students of all levels to explore the beautiful piano repertoire by deepening their understanding of technique and diverse musical styles, as well as a commitment to consistent practicing and studying.

Yi-Fang’s students have garnered top awards in competitions locally and globally, including Junior Bach Festival, United States International Music Competition, Piano Star International Competition, Chicago International Competition, Chopin Avenue Piano Competition, Elevato International Piano Competition in Switzerland, Henle Piano Competition in Germany, and WPTA Singapore International Piano Competition.

In addition to being a musical partner in high demand, she has appeared in festivals across the US and Europe, such as Eastern Music Festival, The Castleman Quartet Program, Miami Music Festival, International Music Festival and Workshop in Germany, and Savonlinna Music Festival in Finland. She has a B.A. in English Literature from National Tsing Hua University in Taiwan, and a M.M. in Piano Performance and Professional Studies Diploma in Collaborative Piano at the Cleveland Institute of Music. Her principal teachers include Paul Schenly, Daniel Shapiro, and Anita Pontremoli.