About Dr. Kristy

Born in South Korea, Kristy Kyung-A Yang received her bachelor’s degree from Seoul National University. After graduation, she came to the United States where she obtained her master’s degree in piano performance and the degree of DMA (Doctor of Musical Arts) in piano performance and literature from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign under the instruction of professor Ian Hobson. She participated in “The Paris International Summer Sessions” in l’Ecole Normale de Musique <Alfred Cortot> de Paris. She also played in master classes of the well-known professors such as Edward Auer, Evelyn Brancart, Nelson de Lavigno, John Perry and Christopher Taylor, from whom she received favorable criticisms.

In the United States, Dr. Kristy won the first prize in the Krannert Center for Performing Art Debut-Artist Competition. She appeared as soloist with the University of Illinois Symphony Orchestra after winning the first prize of the U of I concerto competition as well as she featured in various concerts including eight solo-recitals, two lecture recitals and chamber music recitals.

Dr. Kristy had also been recognized with many honors in Korea. She presented a solo-recital after being selected as a Promising Young Pianist by the Korean Music Leader’s Association, an organization which awarded her first prize in its music competition. She also received first prize at the International Cultural Exchange Music Competition and the Korean National Competition sponsored by the Korean Daily Newspaper.

After the completion of her degree, Dr.Kristy went back to Seoul and started teaching in Kook-Min University, Myung-Ji university, Se-Jong University, Chong-Shin University and Sung-Gyul University. She presented solo-recitals at Seoul Arts Center, Kum-Ho Art Hall and Se-Jong Chamber Hall. Also she featured in concerts and chamber music recitals and performed as a soloist with Seoul Symphony Orchestra. Kristy participated in “The Asia Grand Piano Concert” in Kuala-Lumpur, Malaysia where one hundred pianists from Korea, Japan, China, Taiwan and Malaysia played together. She was invited to present solo-recitals at Dolby Hall in San Francisco and at Jewish Cultural Center in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Dr.Kristy moved to Frisco, TX with her husband and a daughter since her husband started working in north texas a couple years ago. She is a member of The Korean Piano Society and Piano da Camera in South Korea, and NMTA, TMTA, FMTA in the States. Kristy inspires her students with engaging activities and event participation to make learning more goal-oriented and rewarding.