» Solo Piano Piano Performance

The Bachelor of Music (B.M.) in Solo Piano Performance program at Chapman encourages creativity, community, excellence, inclusion, and collaboration. We foster an environment that encourages a robust exchange of ideas. All members of our community should feel respected in pursuit of excellence in piano, knowing that each pianist is following a unique path.

Our piano curriculum is well-rounded and includes traditional, rigorous performance training through courses such as Business of Music, Principles of Piano Technology (tuning and repair), Improvisation, Alexander Technique, Film Music, Music Technology, Accompanying and Ensemble opportunities. And our curriculum is adapted to support our pianists as 21st-century musicians, aware of the importance of shifting with the changes in the field. This comprehensive piano education upholds a quality foundation of technical and musical mastery while integrating relevant courses for the pianists to gain the tools to be Total Pianists.

By the time you graduate you'll be prepared to:

• Demonstrate fluent musicianship skills, including:
  • an understanding of music theory
  • proficiency with aural skills and sight reading
  • knowledge of different musical styles and historical eras
  • basic piano skills
  • the ability to rehearse and perform collaboratively and contribute to an ensemble
  • proficiency with basic music technology
  • an understanding and demonstration of basic improvisation techniques

• Demonstrate performance skills as a soloist on your main instrument, including:
  • knowledge in technique
  • knowledge in historically appropriate performance styles and repertoire
  • sight reading

• Demonstrate leadership, having observed and experienced leadership roles and professional opportunities in order to prepare for a career as a performer.

• Employ pedagogical techniques and skills relevant to your instrument family

More information about program courses and requirements is available on our Solo Piano Performance catalog page.

Performance Opportunities

As an undergraduate-only program, our solo piano majors have priority for a myriad of performance and study opportunities, including participation in international festivals (Italy, Costa Rica, London).

Performances include solo recitals, chamber music recitals and more:

• showcase recital each semester
• Music at Noon concert each semester
• collaborative projects with dance and film students
• performances with The Chapman Orchestra, University Wind Symphony, and New Music Ensemble
• annual performances in the Chapman Instrumental & Vocal Competition
• weekly studio class performances with feedback from four piano faculty
• guest artist masterclass performances two or three times each semester

Other Perks

• You'll never have to wait to use grand piano practice rooms because our piano majors have reservation priority
• You can option to double-major in another music or non-music program and complete both in four years thanks to full support from your faculty
• You'll have career support from our dedicated performing arts career advisor from day one and beyond graduation
• Our piano students have:
  • studied and performed works of BIPOC composers
  • worked with GRAMMY-winning pianist Nadia Shpachenko
  • won the jazz pianist position on Disney Cruiselines
  • become the youngest piano technician in the Orange County Piano Technicians Guild
  • performed at Carnegie Hall
  • performed at the Mozarteum in Germany
  • been invited to perform at the Robert Schumann Museum in Zwichau, Germany
  • won top prizes in local, state, national and international piano competitions
  • matriculated at a high rate to pursue advanced degrees at top-level music schools

Program Faculty

The Solo Piano Performance program is led by Dr. Grace Fong, a prize-winning American pianist with an international career as a concerto soloist, recitalist, chamber musician, and contemporary keyboardist. Praised as "positively magical" (Cleveland Plain Dealer), and "immediately a revelation" (Arizona Central), Fong has gained critical acclaim in the United States, Canada, Europe, United Arab Emirates and Asia. She has been featured at major venues including Weill Hall at Carnegie Hall; the Kennedy Center; Musco Center for the Arts; Phillips Collection; the Hollywood Bowl; Great Hall in Leeds, UK; Reinberger Hall at Severance Hall; the Liszt Academy in Budapest; Konzerthaus Dortmund in Germany; and the National Center for Performing Arts, Beijing. Radio and television performances have included the British Broadcasting Company, "Performance Today" on National Public Radio, WFMT “Live from Chicago,” WCLV-FM Cleveland, KUSC Los Angeles, and the "Emerging Young Artists" series in New York. She has performed as soloist with the Mariinsky Theater Orchestra under Valery Gergiev, the Halle Orchestra in the United Kingdom under Mark Elder, the Polish Chamber Orchestra under Wojcec Rajski, the Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra, the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, the Phoenix Symphony, Pacific Symphony, and Music Academy of the West Festival Orchestra, among others.

Our talented and experienced keyboard faculty offer intensive individual instruction (1:3 piano faculty-to-student ratio), as well as weekly master classes for piano majors. The conservatory offers innovative courses in music technology, a Business of Music seminar, a Healthy Approaches seminar, and Film Music, among others.

Additional solo piano program faculty:

• Dr. Ron Anderson
• Dr. Christopher Brennan
• Prof. Ruby Cheng
• Prof. Karen Knecht
• Prof. Hedy Lee
• Dr. Janice Park

Guest Artists

Master classes with world-renowned artists have featured pianists Sergei Babayan, John Perry, Vadym Kholodenko, and Eduardo Delgado, to name a few. The annual Musco Distinguished Piano Series presents world renowned pianists in concert and in master classes in the Musco Center for the Arts, our 1044-seat world-class auditorium.

Where This Degree Will Take You

• professional performance
• piano instruction
• music education
• musicology

What's more, by adding a double major or minor in another music or non-music discipline, students may harness their Solo Piano Performance degree in even more diverse careers after graduation.

Career Connections for Life

We support the paths our pianists choose after graduation from Chapman, whether that be graduate school to pursue advanced degrees in piano performance, pedagogy, music education, arts management, music therapy, or non-music degrees; launch a teaching studio; perform in classical or non-classical genres (accompanying, self-created ensembles, jazz, musical theater, popular music), or work in the music industry. Your dedicated career advisor will help you define your goals and develop a plan to reach them.

Admission and Tour Information

Learn more about applying to the conservatory on our Music Admission page, including information about auditions and deadlines, or check out the curriculum on our catalog page.

Want to learn more about Chapman? We are always available for tours and information sessions. We’d love to meet you!