Commended for his “perceptive pianism” (Audiophile) and “playing that is sensitive and wonderfully warm” (American Record Guide), Chicago pianist Kuang-Hao Huang is a highly sought-after collaborative artist whose performances have taken him throughout North America, Europe and Asia. He has performed at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, and Merkin Hall in New York City; at the Kennedy Center and NPR’s Tiny Desk in Washington, D.C.; and at every major venue in the Chicago area, including the Harris Theatre and Symphony Center. He is often heard live on WFMT and has also performed on WQXR and Medici.tv.
Huang has recorded for Acis, Cedille, Innova and Naxos, including a CD of flute fantasies with flutist Mathieu Dufour, a premiere recording of early songs by Alban Berg with mezzo-soprano Julia Bentley, and a survey of songs by Chicago composers with baritone Thomas Hampson. He can also be heard with violinist Augustin Hadelich on the official recordings for Suzuki Violin Books 4-6.
A strong advocate of new music, Huang has premiered numerous works, including pieces by Laurie Altman, Jacob Bancks, Kyong Mee Choi, Stacy Garrop, John Harbison, Shawn Okpebholo, and Shulamit Ran. He gave the world premiere performances of works by Louis Andriessen and Chen Yi at Weill Hall as part of Carnegie Hall’s Millennium Piano Book Project. Huang has been a core member of Fulcrum Point New Music Project and Picosa, and he has also appeared as a guest pianist for Ensemble Dal Niente and for the Chicago Symphony Orchestra’s MusicNOW series.
Inspired by orchestral fellowships with the New World Symphony and at the Aspen Music Festival, Huang continues to enjoy opportunities as an orchestral pianist. He is a member of the Chicago Philharmonic and has also performed with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the Grant Park Symphony Orchestra, and the Chicago Sinfonietta.
A dedicated educator, Huang serves on the faculties of the Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University and Concordia University-Chicago. He has also taught at the Bienen School of Music at Northwestern University. He holds degrees from the University of Wisconsin and Indiana University, and was a recipient of the U.S. Department of Education’s Jacob K. Javits Fellowship.
For a decade, Huang was the driving force behind Make Music Chicago, a citywide celebration of music every June 21st. He also founded the organization’s Pianos in the Parks program, which partners with the Chicago Park District to to bring outdoor pianos and free introductory lessons to neighborhoods throughout the city. Currently, Huang serves on the Advisory Council for the Make Music Alliance and on the Board of Directors of the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestras.
Please note: Biographies are based on information provided to the CSOA by the artists or their representatives. More current information may be available on websites of the artists or their management.
