Tian
Emily Tian
FM Director
Pianist Emily Tian has been performing for over 30 years. Emily was raised in a musical family: her mother a professional opera singer and her father a professional ballet dancer. As a child she received awards for piano, vocals and dancing. She attended Gui Zhou Music & Arts Magnet School in China, for professional piano study, and went on to Gui Zhou University, where she received her bachelor’s degree in 2005. She received the “Best Musician Award” every year at both the magnet school and university. Recognizing her talent, the Gui Zhou Province Symphony invited her to be a lifetime piano soloist. Emily then pursued advanced studies at Stuttgart Music Conservatory under the direction of Ms. Huang Wan Ying, one of the best piano educators in Europe and China. In January 2008 she won first place in “The First Professional Musical Instrument Competition in Gui Zhou Province.” The following year she entered the music performance program at California State East Bay University, where she completed her master’s degree and became employed as vocal/instrumental coach. Currently, Emily collaborates regularly with emerging and established composers and musicians alike, all while maintaining a full-time position as the piano program manager at Oakland School for the Arts. Last year Emily had her own duet piano and saxophone concert, featuring African-American composers work. Also, she was the pianist and music director for Savage Jazz Dance Company “Sketches of Oakland” dance and contemporary music concert.
