Shepherdstown, WV—Shepherd University Department of Music presents the second concert of the 2015-2016 Music Salon Series, sponsored by Jefferson Security Bank, on Thursday, September 10th at 8:00 p.m. in W. H. Shipley Recital Hall of the Frank Arts Center, with “An evening of Czech Music” featuring Washington, D.C.-based violinist Shu-Ting Yao and Shepherd piano faculty Yu-Hsuan Liao. The performance is free and open to the public.
The violin and piano duo will present important repertoire written for violin and piano around the turn of the twentieth century, including Janáček’s Sonata for Violin and Piano, Dvořák’s Violin Concerto, and Hubay’s Carmen Fantasie Brillante.
Praised in Black Forest Messenger of Triberg, Germany “The audience was thrilled and 
impressed by Yao’s playing with full sound on all strings……the performance will remain unforgotten” violinist Dr. Shu-Ting Yao enjoys a career as a solo and chamber violinist, and frequently appears in major concert venues in the U.S., Europe and Asia. Other than solo appearances, Yao also performed with acclaimed ensembles, including Charleston Symphony, Manhattan Symphonie, Apollo Chamber Orchestra, The Symphony of the Potomac, Baltimore Philharmonic, Bel Cantanti Opera Orchestra, Toscanini New Orchestra, Loudoun Symphony Orchestra, National String Symphonia and the Celebrated String Quartet. Having been chosen as one of the La Gesse Foundation Artists 2011-2012, Yao has given numerous thrilling solo recitals in Baltimore, Washington DC, Rockville MD, Lyon of France, Triberg of German, Rochester NY as well as the Weill Recital at Carnegie Hall in New York City during the 2011-2012 season. A native of Taiwan, Yao began her music study with violin and piano at the age of seven. She holds Bachelor of Music degree in Performance and Education from National Taipei University of Education (NTUE), Master of Music Degree from Peabody Conservatory and the Professional Study Diploma from Mannes College of Music in New York City. She obtained a Doctor of Musical Arts Degree from the Catholic University of America where she served as a full scholarship doctoral fellow as well as the teaching assistant in music theory department. Yao won the first prize of the NTUE concerto competition in 2001 and the Baltimore Music Club Competition in 2009. While at NTUE, she was invited to attend Aspen Music Festival and Asia Youth Orchestra.
Originally from Taipei, Taiwan, Dr. Yu-Hsuan Liao, Director of Keyboard Studies at Shepherd University since 2011, received her Masters and Doctoral Degrees of Musical Arts in Piano Performance from University of Texas at Austin under Danielle Martin, Dariusz Pawlas, and Gregory Allen. She began her musical studies in Tung-Hai University under Thomas Linde, receiving her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. She is a piano soloist, collaborative artist, and music educator. She has expanded her repertoire in instrumental, chamber, vocal and choral music in various styles and periods. Dr. Liao worked with “American Repertory Ensemble” and performed piano solo, chamber and accompanying vocal music in the company’s performance series. Her solo performance with A.R.E. (“Valses Poéticos”, Passion at Play) was nominated for best instrumentalist in the Austin Critics Table Award for season of 2008-2009. She gave a piano lecture-recital based on her published book (2009) titled “Manuel de Falla’s Cuatro Piezas Españoles: Combinations and Transformations of the Spanish Folk Modes” and a solo piano performance in composers’ new composition concert at the College Music Society conferences. She is an active member of the West Virginia Music Teachers Association, and has been granted the National Certification for Teacher of Music (NCTM) by Music Teachers National Association (MTNA). She is the district chair of Eastern Panhandle Music Teachers Association and WVMTA state collaborative performance chair. She regularly gives master classes and is in high demand for adjudication at festivals and competitions around the West Virginia, Maryland, Virginia, and D.C. region.
Sponsored by Jefferson Security Bank, all of the Shepherd University Music Salon Series concerts take place in the W. H. Shipley Recital Hall of the Frank Arts Center and begin at 8:00 p.m. Admission is free and open to the public. For more information about the Shepherd Salon Series or other Music Department events call 304-876-5555 or visit www.shepherd.edu/music.