Valentina Wen-Ting Huang, Doctor of Music

A pianist of poetic expression and refined artistry, Valentina Wen-Ting Huang has graced stages across Asia, Europe, and North America as a soloist, chamber musician, and creative force in music education. A laureate of the Chesapeake Chamber Music Competition in the US and the National Young Talents Competition in Taiwan, and recipient of scholarship programs in Vienna, Paris, and the US, she weaves cultural richness and musical depth into every performance, presenting the classical music heritage with a modern, eclectic style.

Dr. Huang’s musical path encompasses the Vienna University of Music and Performing Arts with Noel Flores, École Normale de Musique de Paris with Germaine Mounier, and Indiana University, mentored by the legendary pianist Menahem Pressler. The master classes with Alicia de Larrocha, Jörg Demus, Jacob Lateiner, Jean Micault, and Norman Shetler enriched her interpretative style. Her endeavors in composition, ethnomusicology, and art history are reflected in her playing, which showcases a unique synthesis of intellectual rigor, versatile expressivity, and emotional sensitivity. As the founding pianist of the Moirae Piano Trio and a former member of the Felici Trio, she has collaborated with artists from the LA Philharmonic, Hong Kong Philharmonic, and Symphony Orchestras in California, as well as faculty members of prestigious music institutions in the US, Vienna, and Taiwan.

Beyond the stage, Dr. Huang is a passionate educator devoted to nurturing the next generation of musicians. She directs the Keyboard Studies and Piano Chamber Music programs at California State University, San Bernardino, and co-chairs the Inland Empire branch of Junior Chamber Music. She is also an adjunct faculty member at Claremont Graduate University. As an enthusiastic advocate for holistic and interdisciplinary musical training, Dr. Huang integrates piano technique, anatomical awareness, stylistic conceptual interpretation, and cultural historical context into her teaching. Her students have garnered top prizes at regional, national, and international competitions, including SYMF, SCJBF, Glendale Piano Competition, Satori, Charleston, and American Protégé. She is also a sought-after clinician and juror for MTAC, MTNA, SCJBF, SYMF, and international festivals.

Recent highlights include the Steinway Top Teacher Award (2024), a triumphant Taiwan tour with the Zephyra Trio, and a memorable performance of Beethoven’s Triple Concerto with the IVC Symphony Orchestra. She was invited to judge the final round of the 2024-2025 Indonesian Steinway Youth Piano Competition and served as the juror for the MTAC’s Piano Concerto and Solo competition and Advanced Panel Adjudication in California. She is a piano faculty member at the InterHarmony International Music Festival and the Talent Summer Courses Festival in Brescia, Italy, in summer 2025. She is slated to perform at the National Concert Hall in Taipei and the Opera Theatre in Taichung in December 2025. Her artistic journey is guided by a passion to discover, to connect, and to transform through music.